Cage of Gold ** (1950, Jean Simmons, David Farrar, James Donald, Herbert Lom, Bernard Lee) – Classic Movie Review 8270

Basil Dearden’s 1950 film Cage of Gold is a daft but tolerable black and white triangle murder mystery melodrama from Ealing Studios starring a bright young Jean Simmons as Judith. 

Director Basil Dearden’s 1950 Cage of Gold is a daft but tolerable black and white triangle murder mystery melodrama from Ealing Studios starring a bright young Jean Simmons as Judith, a woman who deserts the nice young doctor Alan Kearn (James Donald) she is about to marry for her aviator cad of an ex-lover Bill Brennan (David Farrar) who overwhelms her.

Judith (Simmons) marries Bill (Farrar), who then leaves her when he finds out that she is broke and pregnant, and then Bill supposedly turns up dead. After a suitable period of mourning, she re-marries and is back in the money. Then Bill comes back to life and tries to extort money from her.

This contrived and convoluted plot is a rather poor 21st birthday present for the vivacious young star Simmons, but she gives an attractive performance in it none the less, and Farrar has a good time as the bounder, while Dearden’s fast-moving, professional handling hides at least some of the concocted story’s implausibilities.

Also in the cast are Harcourt Williams, Gladys Henson, introducing Madeleine Lebeau, Maria Mauban, Herbert Lom, Bernard Lee, Martin Boddey, Campbell Singer, George Benson, Arthur Howard, Arthur Lowe, Leo Ferré, Arthur Hambling and Guy Verney.

The inventive screenplay is by Jack Whittingham from an original story by Jack Whittingham and Paul L Stein.

Michael Relph was asked to produce the movie at short notice by Ealing boss Michael Balcon.

Cage of Gold premiered on 21 September 1950 at the Odeon Marble Arch cinema in London.

It runs 84 minutes.

The cast are Jean Simmons as Judith Moray, David Farrar as Bill Glennan, James Donald as Dr Alan Kearn, Herbert Lom as Rahman, Madeleine Lebeau as Marie Jouvet, Maria Mauban as Antoinette Duport, Bernard Lee as Inspector Grey, Grégoire Aslan as Duport, Gladys Henson as Waddy, Harcourt Williams as Dr Kearn senior, Léo Ferré as Victor, George Benson as Assistant Registrar, Martin Boddey as Police Sergeant Adams, Arthur Hambling as Jenkins, Campbell Singer as Constable, Sam Kydd as Waiter, Arthur Howard, Arthur Lowe, Leo Ferré, and Guy Verney.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8270

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