Forbidden Cargo ** (1954, Nigel Patrick, Elizabeth Sellars, Terence Morgan, Jack Warner, Greta Gynt, Joyce Grenfell, Theodore Bikel) – Classic Movie Review 13,251

Forbidden Cargo (1954).

The 1954 British crime film Forbidden Cargo stars Nigel Patrick as a suave UK customs officer on the trail of a brother and sister team of drug smugglers (Elizabeth Sellars and Terence Morgan).

Director Harold French’s 1954 crime film Forbidden Cargo stars Nigel Patrick, Elizabeth Sellars, Terence Morgan, Jack Warner, Greta Gynt, Joyce Grenfell, and Theodore Bikel.

Forbidden Cargo is an unpretentious, watchable British Fifties thriller starring Nigel Patrick as Inspector Michael Kenyon, a suave UK customs officer on the trail of a brother and sister (Elizabeth Sellars and Terence Morgan) team of drug smugglers in the South of France. No doubt for entertainment value, Kenyon initially gets the aid of an eccentric titled bird-watcher.

It is routine and unsurprising, with stock scenes and situations, and not enough tension and action, but the excellent hard-working actors help, bringing the breath of life to writer Sydney Box’s caricatures. Nigel Patrick and Jack Warner as his boss Major Alec White are ideal, stalwarts of the situation, Greta Gynt is a pleasure as Madame Simonetta, and Joyce Grenfell is a showy delight as the titled bird-watcher, Lady Flavia Queensway. And its semi-documentary style has given it considerable period appeal.

Forbidden Cargo is directed by Harold French, runs 85 minutes, is made by London Independent Producers, is released by General Film Distributors (Rank), is written by Sydney Box, is shot in black and white by C Pennington-Richards, is produced by Sydney Box and Earl St John, is scored by Lambert Williamson, and is designed by John Howell.

It is the uncredited theatrical movie debut of Jill Adams (as Kenyon’s dance partner).

The film was shot at Pinewood Studios with location shooting in London and Cannes.

The cast are 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 Detective Pierre Valance, Ronald Adam as Mr Bennett, Ballard Berkeley as Cooper, Campbell Gray as Luigi, Campbell Singer as River Police Sergeant Dodson, 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 Kenyon’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, and Arnold Diamond as French Customs Officer.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,251

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