Passport to Shame [Room 43] ** (1958, Diana Dors, Herbert Lom, Eddie Constantine) – Classic Movie Review 8485

Alvin Rakoff’s 1958 British sexploitation drama film Passport to Shame [Room 43] is a downbeat crime tale about a taxi driver (Eddie Constantine), who weds a French woman (Odile Versois) for money and then protects her from white slavers.

‘A PICTURE BEST UNDERSTOOD BY ADULTS!’

Director Alvin Rakoff’s 1958 British sexploitation drama film Passport to Shame [Room 43] is a somewhat dreary downbeat crime tale about a taxi driver Johnny McVey (Eddie Constantine), who weds a French woman ‘Malou’ Beaucaire (Odile Versois) for money and then protects her from white slavers Nick Biaggi (Herbert Lom) and Aggie (Brenda de Banzie).

The decent acting and direction help the movie limp along, but the clichéd story by Patrick Alexander is a piece of silly sensationalism. Diana Dors does her best but is thrown away in a star-billed support role as Vicki. Michael Caine has an uncredited walk-on as the young bridegroom, with Anne Reid as the young woman getting married to him at the wedding. Robert Fabian, aka ‘Fabian of the Yard’, gives the opening lecture.

Also in the cast are Robert Brown, Joan Sims, Lana Morris, Elwyn Brook-Jones, James Ottaway, Steve Plytas, Margaret Tyzack, Denis Shaw, Pauline Stroud, Charles Price, Yvonne Buckingham, Jackie Collins and Pat Pleasence.

Passport to Shame [Room 43] is directed by Alvin Rakoff, runs 91 minutes or 86 minutes, is made by United Co-Productions, Eros, Allegro and Associated British, is released by British Lion Film Corporation (1958) (UK) and Cory Film Corp (1959) (US), is written by Patrick Alexander, is shot in black and white by Jack Asher, is produced by John Clein, is scored by Kenneth V Jones, and is designed by George Beech.

It was shot at Walton Studios, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England; and at Courtfield Gardens, Kensington, London (the women’s work place); and Courtfield Mews, Kensington (Johnny McVey’s home).

‘IT’S ALL HERE! NOTHING HIDDEN…NEITHER THE SIN…NOR THE SHAME! ACTUALLY TORN FROM THE PAGES OF THE NATION’S LEADING NEWSPAPERS.’

The cast are Diana Dors as Vicki, Herbert Lom as Nick Biaggi, Eddie Constantine as Johnny McVey, Odile Versois as Marie Louise ‘Malou’, Beaucaire, Brenda de Banzie as Aggie, Robert Brown as Mike, Elwyn Brook-Jones as Solicitor Heath, Jackie Collins as English girl, Lana Morris as girl, Steve Plytas as French restaurant manager, Cyril Shaps as Willie, Denis Shaw as Mac, Margaret Tyzack as Heath’s secretary June, Joan Sims as phone operator Miriam, Pauline Stroud as Maria, Michael Caine as man getting married, Anne Reid as woman getting married, Maurice Bush as client in dream sequence, and Emil Stemler as waiter.

Canadian director Alvin Rakoff (February 6, 1927 – October 12, 2024)

Alvin Rakoff died at his home in Chiswick, London, at the age of 97.

His films include The Treasure of San Teresa (also with Eddie Constantine), World in My Pocket, The Comedy Man, Say Hello to Yesterday, Crossplot, Hoffman, City on Fire, and Dirty Tricks.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8485

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