Forbidden Cargo (1954 film)

Forbidden Cargo
Directed byHarold French
Written bySydney Box
Produced bySydney Box
Earl St. John
StarringNigel Patrick
Elizabeth Sellars
Terence Morgan
Greta Gynt
Jack Warner
CinematographyC. M. Pennington-Richards
Edited byAnne V. Coates
Music byLambert Williamson
Production
company
Distributed byGeneral Film Distributors
Release date
  • 4 May 1954 (1954-05-04)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£155,000[1][2]

Forbidden Cargo is a 1954 British crime film directed by Harold French[3] and starring Nigel Patrick, Elizabeth Sellars and Jack Warner. It was written by Sydney Box.

Plot

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A customs officer captures a gang of drugs smugglers, assisted by a birdwatcher.

Cast

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Production

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The film was shot at Pinewood Studios with sets designed by the art director John Howell.[3] Location shooting took place in London and Cannes.

Critical reception

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The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Made to a familiar pattern, this thriller wavers between a semi-documentary account of Customs methods and such melodramatic excitements as the final car chase. The script develops little tension – the story is somewhat haphazardly constructed – and direction and playing are only fair. Joyce Grenfell is incongruously introduced in the early scenes to provide a caricature of an eccentric and devoted bird watcher."[4]

Leonard Maltin noted a "Modest drama," which was "enlivened by a solid cast";[5] British Pictures noted a "Nice cast, but dreary story";[6]

Kine Weekly said "Polished and exciting melodrama. Semi-documentary in approach, it illustrates a hectic chapter in an eager official's notebook. Its script is far from taut, but, although it sprawls a bit, its surface action is never dull and its climax packs a mighty wallop. Moreover, the cast is, with few exceptions, first class, and no expense has been spared to create correct and colourful atmosphere. Definitely grand value for the masses and youngsters."[7]

Variety said "Direction is neatly tuned to the suspense note established in the screenplay and there is enough action to sustain the plot. There is an allround thesping standard with Nigel Patrick effectively portraying the customs sleuth and Jack Warner doing reliable work as his immediate boss. Elizabeth Sellars and Terence Morgan, as brother and sister play their roles adequately. Joyce Grenfell contributes another of her characteristic gems as a titled bird-watcher who provides the first clue."[8]

Allmovie wrote, "Apart from the always delightful Joyce Grenfell, Forbidden Cargo is humorless Dragnet material transplanted to the high seas";[9]

Sky Cinema noted a "workmanlike British thriller from the Fifties, directed by Harold French, has a documentary feel, with some crisp dialogue by Sydney Box. The suave Nigel Patrick stars as the customs investigator alerted to nefarious coastal activities by none other than the wonderful Joyce Grenfell. She is cast as an aristocratic birdwatcher who is most put out that a suspicious landing craft should disturb her nesting birds. Other stalwarts appearing include Elizabeth Sellars and Terence Morgan as brother-and-sister smugglers, Jack Warner, Greta Gynt, Michael Hordern and Eric Pohlmann, particularly good as a Polish racketeer. A pleasing period piece."[10]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Customs agent Nigel Patrick tries to stop drug smugglers from polluting our shores in this cosy but rather unexciting thriller. Patrick is supported by a cast of British stalwarts that includes Joyce Grenfell (as a bird-watcher named Lady Flavia Queensway), Elizabeth Sellars, Jack Warner and Terence Morgan."[11]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Not-too-interesting story falls between documentary and thriller."[12]

References

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  1. ^ Spicer, Andrew (5 September 2006). Sydney Box. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719059995 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Andrew Spicer, Sydney Box Manchester Uni Press 2006 p 153
  3. ^ a b "Forbidden Cargo". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Forbidden Cargo". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 21 (240): 87. 1 January 1954 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ "Forbidden Cargo (1954) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
  6. ^ Absalom, David. "ARCHIVE Fo - For: British Films of the 30s, 40s and 50s". www.britishpictures.com.
  7. ^ "Forbidden Cargo". Kine Weekly. 445 (2444): 22. 29 April 1954 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ "Forbidden Cargo". Variety. 194 (10): 6. 12 May 1954.
  9. ^ "Forbidden Cargo (1954) - Harold French - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  10. ^ "Forbidden Cargo". Archived from the original on 22 September 2017.
  11. ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 334. ISBN 9780992936440.
  12. ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 311. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
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