There Is Another Sun [Wall of Death] *** (1951, Maxwell Reed, Susan Shaw, Laurence Harvey) – Classic Movie Review 13,128

There Is Another Sun (1951, Laurence Harvey).

Lewis Gilbert’s 1951 British crime film There Is Another Sun [Wall of Death] is a downbeat tale of betrayal about two carnival folk, and stars Maxwell Reed, Susan Shaw and Laurence Harvey.

Lewis Gilbert’s 1951 film There Is Another Sun [Wall of Death] is based on a story by James Ralsin, and stars Maxwell Reed, Susan Shaw and Laurence Harvey.

There Is Another Sun is a low-budget, but quite nicely done British crime filler, with a fragrantly etched fairground background, enacted by some more than reasonable performers.

It’s a downbeat tale of betrayal about two carnival folk, one of whom (Maxwell Reed) is a motorcycle daredevil who rides the wall of death, and the other (Laurence Harvey) a prize-fighter boxer, who battle over a beautiful woman (Susan Shaw) from the carnival but team up to swindle their barker boss out of his savings.

This unusual British B-movie, which examines the darker face of the funfair, boasts guaranteed cult status, thanks to its effective noir atmosphere, brisk, lively handling and bright, able performances.

It was, sensibly, retitled Wall of Death in America.

The cast are Maxwell Reed, Susan Shaw, Laurence Harvey, Hermione Baddeley, Leslie Dwyer, Meredith Edwards, Robert Adair, Earl Cameron, Charles Farrell, Eric Pohlmann, Harry Fowler, Leslie Bradley, Laurence Naismith, Hal Osmond, Jennifer Jayne, Dennis Vance, Vic Wise, Peter Scott, Dennis Bowen, John Westbrook, Nosher Powell, Stanley Rose, John Powe, Duncan Lamont, Jack May, Jim Brady, and Arthur Mullard.

It is shot at Walton Studios, in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, England.

Release dates: 12 June 1951 (UK) and 17 May 1952 (US).

There Is Another Sun [Wall of Death] is directed by Lewis Gilbert, runs 95 minutes, is made by Nettlefold Films, is released by Butcher’s Film Service (UK) and Realart Pictures (US), is written by Guy Morgan, is shot in black and white by Dudley Lovell, is produced by Ernest G Roy, is scored by Wilfred Burns, and designed by George Provis (art director).

It is Lewis Gilbert’s third feature film following The Little Ballerina and Once a Sinner. Gilbert’s next is Scarlet Thread (1951), also with Laurence Harvey.

The cast are Maxwell Reed as Eddie ‘Racer’ Peskett, Laurence Harvey as Mag Maguire, Susan Shaw as Lillian, Leslie Dwyer as Mick Foley, Meredith Edwards as Detective Sergeant Bratcher, Hermione Baddeley as fortune-teller Gypsy Sarah, Robert Adair as Sarno Leslie Bradley as racetrack manager Eric Pohlmann as club owner Markie, Nosher Powell as champion boxer Teddy Green, Earl Cameron as carnival boxer Ginger Jones, Dennis Vance as Len Tyldesley, Laurence Naismith as Green’s trainer Riley, Charles Farrell as fight promoter Mr Simmons, Wilfred Burns as pianist, Harry Fowler as first novice biker, Jennifer Jayne as Dora, Arthur Mullard as boxing booth contestant Harry, Hal Osmond as Mannock, J.H. Messham as 1st Wall of Death rider, Jim Kynaston as 2nd Wall of Death rider, Tom Messham as 3rd Wall of Death rider, Dennis Bowen, John Westbrook, Stanley Rose, John Powe, Duncan Lamont, Jack May, and Jim Brady.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,128

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