Ring of Spies **** (1964, Bernard Lee, William Sylvester, Margaret Tyzack) – Classic Movie Review 10,846

Director Robert Tronson’s 1963 black and white real-life crime thriller Ring of Spies [Ring of Treason] is an involving, realistic film of the infamous Sixties Portland Spy Ring case in Britain. Bernard Lee gives a stalwart turn as a disgruntled sacked British embassy employee, Warrant Officer Henry Houghton, blackmailed by the Soviets into joining an espionage ring, for which he steals secret government files from the UK Underwater Weapons Establishment.

The extremely capable cast all give serious performances of considerable range and depth in a very fine little movie, with plenty of intrigue, suspense and mystery, and effective documentary-style filming, much of it on location. David Kossoff and Nancy Nevinson play spies Peter and Helen Kroger, while William Sylvester plays Gordon Lonsdale. And there is a good rare star role for Margaret Tyzack as Elizabeth Gee, which she makes the most of.

It co-stars Thorley Walters as Cmdr. Winters, Patrick Barr as Captain Warner, Newton Blick, Derek Francis as Chief Supt. Croft, Justine Lord as Christina, Philip Latham as Captain Ray, and Cyril Chamberlain as Anderson.

Also in the cast are Paul Eddington as Partygoer, Gillian Lewis as Marjorie Shaw, Richard Marner as Colonel Monat, Hector Ross as Supt. Woods, André Mikhelson as Russian Embassy official, Garry Marsh as 1st Member at Lord’s, Basil Dignam as 2nd Member at Lord’s, Geoffrey Palmer as Police Officer, Brian Nissen as Portland official, Edwin Apps as Blake, Fred Griffiths as News vendor, Bryan Pringle as Stakeout PC, Anita West as Tilly and George Pravda ((secondary supporting role).

The screenplay writers are Frank Launder and Peter Barnes.

The film-makers add significantly at the end: ‘Although the substance of this film is based upon true events and the leading characters depict actual persons, neither the officials portrayed, nor their establishments, officers or places of work, are based upon real places or actual individuals.’

It is shot at Shepperton Studios on sets designed by Norman Arnold and around London, including many of the locations involved in the real-life case.

It is produced by Leslie Gilliat, the brother of writer Frank Launder’s regular film business partner, Sidney Gilliat.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,846

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