The Man in the Road * (1957, Derek Farr, Ella Raines, Donald Wolfit, Cyril Cusack) – Classic Movie Review 12,061

The 1957 British film The Man in the Road, starring Derek Farr, Ella Raines, Donald Wolfit, is a typical 1950s ‘red menace’ Cold War espionage thriller.

Director Lance Comfort’s 1957 British black and white thriller film The Man in the Road stars Derek Farr, Ella Raines, Donald Wolfit and Cyril Cusack.

It is a dull, typical 1950s ‘red menace’ Cold War espionage thriller, routinely handled, in which the enemy Communist agents are after amnesiac scientist Dr James Paxton (Derek Farr)’s secret formula. Paxton wakes up in an English country nursing home where the doctors and nurses insist he has an unfamiliar identity. The Communists have kidnapped and hypnotised him, and plan to take him with them to Russia. But luckily American writer (Ella Raines), who lives nearby, is on hand to help.

The acting of a sincere, competent and hard-working cast helps, with good ripe villainy from Wolfit, and a charming final film appearance from Raines, but the plot is absurd and the handling is unpersuasive.

Also in the cast are Lisa Daniely, Karel Stepanek, Cyril Cusack, Olive Sloane, Russell Napier, Frederick Piper, Alfred Maron, John Welsh, and Bruce Beeby.

Guy Morgan’s screenplay is based on Anthony Armstrong’s novel He Was Found in the Road.

It is shot at Beaconsfield Studios, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK.

The Man in the Road is directed by Lance Comfort, runs 83 minutes, is made by Gibraltar Films, is released by Grand National (UK) and Republic Pictures (US), is written by Guy Morgan, is shot by Stanley Pavey, is produced by Charles A Leeds, is scored by Bruce Campbell and designed by Eric Saw.

The cast are Derek Farr as Ivan Mason/ Dr James Paxton, Ella Raines as Rhona Ellison, Donald Wolfit as Professor Cattrell, Lisa Daniely as Nurse Mitzi, Bruce Beeby as Dr Manning, Russell Napier as Scotland Yard Superintendent Davidson, Cyril Cusack as Dr Kelly, Frederick Piper as Inspector Hayman, Karel Stepanek as Dmitri Balinkev, Olive Sloane as landlady Mrs Lemming, Alfred Maron as Ambulance driver, and John Welsh as Employer.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,061

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