Never Let Go **½ (1960, Richard Todd, Peter Sellers, Elizabeth Sellars, Adam Faith, Carol White, Mervyn Johns) – Classic Movie Review 7788

‘A New Peter Sellers – Tough and Ruthless!’ as a London villain in John Guillermin’s 1960 crime drama Never Let Go.

Director John Guillermin’s 1960 British black and white crime drama thriller film Never Let Go stars Peter Sellers, bravely trying a rare serious role as a nasty London villain called Lionel Meadows, a dodgy garage owner who deals in stolen cars. He gets young petty thief Tommy Towers (Adam Faith) to steal a 1959 Ford Anglia, owned by cosmetics salesman John Cummings (Richard Todd), who is dependent on the car to keep his job and is desperate to recover it, and then fights back.

Although this very interesting film largely fails, it is a commendable try by Sellers, who nevertheless does not get the tone quite right, but Todd does surprisingly well as the travelling salesman. It also stars Elizabeth Sellars as his wife Anne Cummings, pop star Adam Faith, fresh from his success with his 1959 single ‘What Do You Want?’, in his film debut as Tommy Towers, Carol White as Jackie and Mervyn Johns as Alfie Barnes.

Despite a fascinating cast, stalwart director and more than tolerable theme, this British crime melodrama – tough for its day – has not really worn all that well and plays like a rather creaky old B-movie. Alun Falconer’s screenplay, based on a story by John Guillermin and Peter de Sarigny, is the main problem, with all its many clichés and unconvincing details. It does have considerable period charm and fascination, though, with its downbeat portrait of grungy 1960 life in the UK, still stuck in postwar malaise. The grimy locations of a long-vanished London catch the eye, too, and that 1959 Ford Anglia is the epitome of the era.

Also in the cast are Noel Willman as Inspector Thomas, David Lodge as Cliff, Peter Jones as Alec Berger John Bailey, Nigel Stock, John le Mesurier, Charles Houston, John Dunbar, Marianne Stone, Maureen Connell, Jan Holden and Cyril Shaps.

The music is composed and conducted by John Barry.

Adam Faith makes his film debut as Tommy Towers.

Never Let Go is directed by John Guillermin, runs 90 minutes, is made by Independent Artists, Julian Wintle/ Leslie Parkyn Productions, is released by Rank (UK) and Continental (US), is written by Alun Falconer, from a story by John Guillermin and Peter de Sarigny, is shot in black and white by Christopher Challis, is produced by Julian Wintle, Leslie Parkyn and Peter de Sarigny, is scored by John Barry, and is designed by George Provis.

The cast are Richard Todd as John Cummings, Peter Sellers as Lionel Meadows, Elizabeth Sellars as Anne Cummings, Adam Faith as Tommy Towers, Carol White as Jackie, Mervyn Johns as Alfie Barnes, Noel Willman as Inspector Thomas, David Lodge as Cliff, Peter Jones as Alec Berger, John Bailey as Mackinnon, Nigel Stock as Regan, John Le Mesurier as Pennington, John Dunbar as Station Sergeant, Charles Houston as Cyril Spink, Cyril Shaps as Cypriot, Dorothy Gordon as Typist, Mignon O’Doherty as Manageress, Maureen Connell as Stores Girl, Marianne Stone as Madge, Jan Holden, and Cyril Shaps.

After Guillermin told producer Peter de Serigny his car had been stolen, they discussed what would happen if someone’s livelihood was dependent on a stolen car. They developed the idea into a story and got Alun Falconer to turn it into a screenplay.

Filming began November 1959 and it was released on 7 June 1960 in the UK.

Carol White alleged she had affairs with Adam Faith, Richard Todd and Peter Sellers during filming.

Sellers was hired to play Cummings but asked to play the main villain Meadows instead.

The film was originally called Moment of Truth.

Much of the action is in Chichester Place, Paddington, a run down area demolished in 1965.

It was released as a Region 1 DVD by MGM Home Video on 7 June 2005.

The opening and closing credits feature the song ‘When Johnny Comes Marching Home’ sung by Adam Faith.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7788

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