Seven Days to Noon

... but tells the story of a nuclear scientist in England who goes a little nutty and writes a letter to the prime minister demanding that the country stop making bombs. If not, he'll set off a little atomic bomb he just swiped in the middle of London at noon on Sunday. Barry Jones plays the nutty guy and Andre Morrell plays the stalwart Scotland Yard superintendent who coordinates the manhunt.

Their inability to track down this crafty guy leads to a massive evacuation of residents. It's a fascinating little film about the new nuclear age set amid the rubble of blitzed London which is still obviously evident. About half-way through the film, matters take a little turn by introducing a washed-up actress who sort of picks up the fugitive in a bar. She's played by Olive Sloane and she's quite marvelous as the cheerful has-been who doesn't quite know it's over. It's an unexpected little turn and it makes the whole film, especially since there can only be one outcome to the film's premise. It won an Oscar for best writing.