Hell Drivers ***½ (1957, Stanley Baker, Peggy Cummins, Herbert Lom, Patrick McGoohan, William Hartnell, Wilfrid Lawson, Sidney James, Jill Ireland, Alfie Bass, Gordon Jackson, David McCallum) – Classic Movie Review 3458

Writer-director Cy Endfield’s 1957 British film noir crime drama Hell Drivers stars Stanley Baker, Herbert Lom, Peggy Cummins and Patrick McGoohan.

Stanley Baker celebrates his first lead role by giving one of his best tough-guy turns as Joe ‘Tom’ Yateley, a one-time convict who joins the Hawlett Trucking company, a bent firm of lorry drivers hauling riskily big loads over dangerous roads. After his Italian buddy Gino Rossi (Herbert Lom) is killed, Yateley (Baker) sets out to expose the company’s corrupt foreman Cartley (William Hartnell) and his henchman driver ‘Red’ Redman (Patrick McGoohan).

Made in the British realist style of the day back in 1957, with black and white widescreen cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth, this is an involving, well-crafted crime thriller, still gripping and more than watchable. The stylish shooting and the excellent performances by several impressive actors make up for any rough edges in Cy Endfield’s script (with John Kruse) and direction – both of which commendably try to pay full attention to character and dialogue as well as plot and action.

Also notable in the cast are Peggy Cummins, Wilfrid Lawson, Sidney James as Dusty, Jill Ireland, Alfie Bass, Gordon Jackson, David McCallum, Wensley Pithey, Robin Bailey, John Horsley, Vera Day, Beatrice Varley and Marjorie Rhodes. And there is an early role for young Sean Connery as ‘Johnny’ Kates, driver of truck 19, his third film role.

Cy Endfield is billed as C Raker Endfield.

The film runs 108 minutes, is produced by Aqua Film Productions and released by the Rank Organisation, is produced by Benjamin Fisz and Earl St. John, and scored by Hubert Clifford. It premiered on 23 July 1957 (London).

Hell Drivers is newly restored and out on Blu-ray and DVD 20 March 2017 in Network’s The British Film Collection to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Stanley Baker and David McCallum (as Tom’s brother Jimmy Yately) act together here as brothers and also star together in Violent Playground (1958).

David McCallum and Jill Ireland met and married during the film’s production.

Red ( Patrick McGoohan) and Dusty (Sid James) looking and laughing at Tom (Stanley Baker) on the floor.

Tom (Stanley Baker) standing by his lorry.

Jill Ireland (1936 – 1990).

Peggy Cummins was born on December 18, 1925 in Wales. She is known for Gun Crazy (1950), Night of the Demon (1957) and Green Grass of Wyoming (1948).

Peggy Cummins also stars in English Without Tears (1944), Green Grass of Wyoming (1948), Gun Crazy (1950), Street Corner (1953), Night of the Demon (1957). Her first film, Dr O’Dowd (1940), is missing.

Peggy Cummins (born Augusta Margaret Diane Fuller; 18 December 1925 – 29 December 2017).

The cast are Stanley Baker as Tom Yately, Herbert Lom as Gino Rossi, Peggy Cummins as Lucy, Patrick McGoohan as G. “Red” Redman, William Hartnell as Cartley, Wilfrid Lawson as Ed, Sid James as Dusty, Jill Ireland as waitress Jill,  Alfie Bass as Tinker, Gordon Jackson as Scottie, David McCallum as Tom’s brother Jimmy Yately,  Sean Connery as Johnny Kates, driver of truck 19, Wensley Pithey as Pop, George Murcell as Tub, Marjorie Rhodes as landlady Ma West, Vera Day as Blonde at dance, Beatrice Varley as Tom’s mother Mrs Yately, Robin Bailey as Hawlett’s assistant manager, John Miller, Jerry Stovin as Chick Keithley, John Horsley as Doctor attending Gino, Marianne Stone as Nurse attending Gino, Ronald Clarke as Barber Joe,  Charles Lamb as Cafe owner, Hal Osmond as Station ticket clerk, Ben Williams as Harry,  and Ian Wilson as Gibson.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 3458

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/

Tom (Stanley Baker) and Red (Patrick McGoohan) arguing.