The Long Haul

Although other comparisons have been made, the American film that this British noir film seems to bare the biggest resemblance for me is the Dick Powell-Lizabeth Scott-Jane Wyatt classic Pitfall. The same plot situation is at work here in The Long Haul with Mature caught between wife Gene Anderson and the voluptuous Diana Dors. The way Dors was coming on to him who could blame Vic for stumbling a bit.

Mature plays a recently discharged American GI who married a British bride and they have a son. He wants to go to America, she wants to stay in the UK. Mature acquiesces temporarily and gets a job as a truck driver handling the big rigs. The truck drivers in Great Britain seem to have the same work ethic and style as they do on this side of the pond.

But a string of bad luck forces Mature into a smuggling operation with Patrick Allen whose girlfriend is Diana Dors. Circumstances bring Mature and Dors together and with those two Jayne Mansfield like weapons of mass destruction she's sporting those who are attracted by same would find it impossible to resist.

The Long Haul with Mature giving it some American box office appeal is a pretty good noir thriller. Though the framework of the story is Pitfall like the ending comes out somewhat different. After over 50 years the film holds up very well for today's audience.

And Diana Dors's appeal is eternal.