The Traitors *** (1962, Patrick Allen, Jacqueline Ellis, James Maxwell, Ewan Roberts, Zena Walker) – Classic Movie Review 12,937

The little-known gem of a 1962 British spy thriller film The Traitors stars Patrick Allen, Jacqueline Ellis, James Maxwell and Zena Walker.

‘In Their Murderous Hands They Hold The Awesome Secrets That Contain The Security Of The Entire World!’

Director Robert Tronson’s 1962 British black and white second-feature espionage drama film The Traitors stars Patrick Allen, Jacqueline Ellis, James Maxwell, Zena Walker, and Ewan Roberts.

A top secret microfilm is found after a plane crash, and NATO intelligence is being leaked to foreign interests, so two United Nations secret service men, one a British agent and the other an American from NATO, are dispatched to trap the mole and smash the communist spy ring.

The Traitors is a little-known gem of a spy thriller starring Patrick Allen and James Maxwell as John Lane and Ray Ellis, the spies on the trail, as well as Jacqueline Ellis as Mary and Zena Walker as Annette Lane.

The taut script by Jim O’Connolly and fast-paced direction are of a quality not usually necessarily associated with British B-movie thrillers, and the authoritative acting is rock solid from a nifty little company.

It is based on an idea by Jim O’Connolly and Joe Levy.

Also in the cast are Jeffrey Segal, Anne Padwick, Harold Goodwin, John Bown (as John Brown), Sean Lynch, Jack May, Mark Singleton, A J Brown, and Anton Rodgers.

Jacqueline Ellis was born on June 21, 1934 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She appeared as both good girls and bad girls in many British crime B-movies and TV shows in England. They include The Traitors and The Sinister Man (both with Patrick Allen); The Hi-Jackers with Anthony Booth; Accidental Death with John Carson; and on TV in The Saint with Roger Moore. She had a busy two-decade career from 1955 to 1974.

The Traitors is directed by Robert Tronson, runs 70 minutes, is made by Ello Productions, is released by Rank Film Distributors (UK) and Universal Pictures (US), is written by Jim O’Connolly  (as J.P. O’Connolly) and Joe Levy (idea by), is shot in black and white by Michael Reed, is produced by Jim O’Connolly, is scored by Johnny Douglas, and is designed by Bert Davey.

The cast are Patrick Allen as John Lane, Jacqueline Ellis as Mary, James Maxwell as Ray Ellis, Zena Walker as Annette Lane, Ewan Roberts as Colonel Burlinson, Jeffrey Segal as Dr Lindt, Anne Padwick as Mrs Lindt, Harold Goodwin as Edwards, John Bown (as John Brown) as Mason, Sean Lynch as Porter, Jack May as Burton, Anton Rodgers as Curtis, and Mark Singleton as Venner, and A J Brown.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,937

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