The Gilded Cage ** (1955, Alex Nicol, Veronica Hurst, Clifford Evans, Ursula Howells) – Classic Movie Review 13,014

The 1955 British B-movie crime thriller film The Gilded Cage is based on Paul Erickson’s story of art theft and murder, and stars Alex Nicol, Clifford Evans and Veronica Hurst.

‘MURDER for a Art Treasure!’

Director John Gilling’s 1955 British B-movie crime thriller film The Gilded Cage, based on Paul Erickson’s story of art theft and murder, stars Alex Nicol, Veronica Hurst, Clifford Evans, and Ursula Howells.

British minor film production company Tempean Films imported young American action man Alex Nicol for this routine thriller about a US Air Force security man trying to prove that his brother was framed by an art smuggler.

Alex Nicol and Michael Alexander play brothers, Captain Steve Anderson and Harry Anderson, who become embroiled with criminals planning a major art heist involving the art treasure painting The Gilded Cage. Harry is framed by the crooks, and arrested, and Steve has to try to prove his brother’s innocence.

The story is far fetched but entertaining. Clifford Evans, Ursula Howells and Elwyn Brook-Jones are reliable as the Brits, giving solid performances, and it is competently, quite smartly and briskly, directed by the capable Gilling.

It is produced by the Robert S Baker/ Monty Berman team for their British film production company Tempean Films that went on to great TV success with the 1956 ITV Saturday Serial programme The Trollenberg Terror, The Saint (1962 – 1969) and Gideon’s Way (1964 – 1965). John Gilling directed many of Tempean’s features.

Baker/ Berman also produced the 1958 film version of The Trollenberg Terror, the final film shot at Southall Studios,

Tempe is a valley in Thessaly, celebrated by Greek poets for its beautiful scenery. So Tempean means beautiful, delightful or charming.

Also in the cast are Michael Alexander, Trevor Reid, Elwyn Brook-Jones, John Stuart, Kenneth Cope, and Ronan O’Casey.

The Gilded Cage is directed by John Gilling, runs 77 minutes, is made by Tempean Films, is released by Eros Films (UK), is written by Brock Williams, based on a story by Paul Erickson, is shot in black and white by Monty Berman, is produced by Robert S Baker and Monty Berman, is scored by Stanley Black, and is designed by Wilfred Arnold.

Release date: February 1955 (UK).

The cast are Alex Nicol as Steve Anderson, Michael Alexander as Harry Anderson, Veronica Hurst as Marcia Farrell, Clifford Evans as Ken Aimes, Ursula Howells as Brenda Lucas, Trevor Reid as Inspector Brace, Elwyn Brook-Jones as Bruno, John Stuart as Harding, Kenneth Cope as hotel receptionist, Ronan O’Casey as Trickson, Patrick Jordan, Marie Bryant, Michael Balfour, Robert O’Neil, Hal Osmond, Joe Wadham, and Martin Wyldeck.

Alex Nicol (January 20, 1916 – July 29, 2001) appeared in more than 40 films, especially Westerns, notably The Man from Laramie (1955). He directed many TV shows including The Wild Wild West (1967), Tarzan (1966) starring Ron Ely, and Daniel Boone (1966). He also played often on Broadway. He played Eddie Slovak is an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958) (Season 3 Episode 14: “The Percentage”).

Alex Nicol in The Screaming Skull, 1958.

Also in 1958, he made his first film as a director, The Screaming Skull, in which he also acts. He recalled: ‘We shot the picture in six weeks and it did very well, so I was happy with that.’

Veronica Patricia Hurst (born Patricia Wilmshurst; 11 November 1931 – 15 November 2022) appeared in 15 films in the 1950s and 1960s. Her last screen appearance was an interview with Talking Pictures TV in 2019.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,014

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