Forbidden Cargo (1954 film)
Forbidden Cargo is a 1954 British crime film directed by Harold French[3] and starring Nigel Patrick, Elizabeth Sellars and Jack Warner.[3] It was shot at Pinewood Studios with sets designed by the art director John Howell. Location shooting took place in London and Cannes.
| Forbidden Cargo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Harold French |
| Written by | Sydney Box |
| Produced by | Sydney Box Earl St. John |
| Starring | Nigel Patrick Elizabeth Sellars Terence Morgan Greta Gynt Jack Warner |
| Cinematography | C. M. Pennington-Richards |
| Edited by | Anne V. Coates |
| Music by | Lambert Williamson |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors |
Release date | 4 May 1954 |
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £155,000[1][2] |
Plot
A customs officer captures a gang of drugs smugglers, assisted by a birdwatcher.[3]
Cast
- Nigel Patrick as Inspector Michael Kenyon
- Elizabeth Sellars as Rita Compton
- Terence Morgan as Roger Compton
- Greta Gynt as Madame Simonetta
- Jack Warner as Major Alec White
- Theodore Bikel as Max
- Joyce Grenfell as Lady Flavia Queensway
- James Gilbert as Agent Larkins
- Eric Pohlmann as Steven Lasovich
- Martin Boddey as Sub-Director Holt
- Michael Hordern as Director of Customs
- Jacques B. Brunius as Det. Pierre Valance
- Ronald Adam as Mr. Bennett
- Ballard Berkeley as Cooper
- Campbell Gray as Luigi
- Campbell Singer as Sergeant Dodson, River Police
- Hal Osmond as Baggage Room Clerk
- Philip Stainton as Seaburyness Police Sergeant
- Brian Wilde as Seaburyness Smuggler
- Campbell Singer as River Police Sergeant
- Tom Gill as Hotel Receptionist
- Jill Adams as Michael's Dance Partner
- Roger Maxwell as Bird Sanctuary Spokesman
- Nicholas Phipps as Royal Navy Information Officer
- Denis Shaw as Ship's Cook
- Lloyd Lamble as Captain of Python
- Cyril Chamberlain as Customs Officer
- John Arnatt as Customs Officer
- John Horsley as Customs Officer
- Arnold Diamond as French Customs Officer
Critical reception
Leonard Maltin noted a "Modest drama," which was "enlivened by a solid cast";[4] British Pictures noted a "Nice cast, but dreary story";[5] Allmovie wrote, "Apart from the always delightful Joyce Grenfell, Forbidden Cargo is humorless Dragnet material transplanted to the high seas";[6] while Sky Cinema noted a "workmanlike British thriller from the Fifties, directed by Harold French, has a documentary feel, with some crisp dialogue by Sydney Box. The suave Nigel Patrick stars as the customs investigator alerted to nefarious coastal activities by none other than the wonderful Joyce Grenfell. She is cast as an aristocratic birdwatcher who is most put out that a suspicious landing craft should disturb her nesting birds. Other stalwarts appearing include Elizabeth Sellars and Terence Morgan as brother-and-sister smugglers, Jack Warner, Greta Gynt, Michael Hordern and Eric Pohlmann, particularly good as a Polish racketeer. A pleasing period piece."[7]
References
- Spicer, Andrew (5 September 2006). Sydney Box. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719059995 – via Google Books.
- Andrew Spicer, Sydney Box Manchester Uni Press 2006 p 153
- "Forbidden Cargo (1954)". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016.
- "Forbidden Cargo (1954) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
- Absalom, David. "ARCHIVE Fo - For: British Films of the 30s, 40s and 50s". www.britishpictures.com.
- "Forbidden Cargo (1954) - Harold French - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- "Forbidden Cargo". Archived from the original on 22 September 2017.