The Man in the Back Seat *** (1961, Derren Nesbitt, Carol White, Keith Faulkner, Harry Locke) – Classic Movie Review 12,347

Director Vernon Sewell’s 1961 British B-movie crime thriller film The Man in the Back Seat is a creepy minor but not insignificant effort based on an Edgar Wallace original story about two nasty hoodlums Tony and Frank (Derren Nesbitt and Keith Faulkner) trying to separate a greyhound racing stadium bookmaker Joe Carrit (Harry Locke) from his bag containing his night’s takings.

The bag is secured by handcuff and chain, so they bundle the beaten and unconscious Carrit into their car and take him to Frank’s house to find a hammer and chisel, but are discovered by Frank’s wife Jean (Carol White).

Tony is the cold and vicious one, giving Derren Nesbitt a good time, showing his mettle as a great bad guy, and Frank is his easily influenced, though less vicious partner-in-crime.

Though the acting and production are pretty basic, this decent little tale is tightly directed by Sewell, with a fine eye for mood, tension and low-key frights. And, complete with a good, ironic ending, it is rather good and entertaining of its humble support-movie kind.

It is economically made and shot with only four credited actors, one of whom is silent through most of the film. Much of the action happens in a cramped flat and the claustrophobic confines of a car at night.

The Man in the Back Seat is directed by Vernon Sewell, runs 57 minutes, is made by Independent Artists, is released by Anglo Amagamated, is written by Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice, is shot by Reg Wyer, is produced by Julian Wintle and Leslie Parkyn, and is scored by Stanley Black.

Derren Nesbitt and Keith Faulkner also appear in Vernon Sewell’s Strongroom (1962).

British actor Derren Nesbitt was born Derren Michael Horwitz on 19 June 1935. His film career began in the late 1950s, often playing villains in roles such as a blackmailer of gay men in Victim (1961), a murderous pimp in The Informers (1963), a slimy assassin in Nobody Runs Forever, and the suspicious Gestapo officer in Where Eagles Dare (1968). He played the lead role of a drag queen in the 2018 British independent film Tucked.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,347

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