Shadow of Fear

There were lots of spy films made in the early sixties due no doubt to the success of the James Bond films,and this is one of the lesser examples.Its only real interest is showing locations in and around the Brighton area,as this is one of the last films made at Brighton studios.The problem with this film is that by and large it is all talk and no action.When there is action it is very poorly staged .What is worse is that in the final scene many of the remaining points have to be cleared up by explanatory dialogue.At that point all one can wonder what characters he is talking about.The film also suffers for a rather slow pace.So alas this is not a hidden masterpiece.

But that's about it. The premise is promising - a British agent in Baghdad gives an oilman a coded message to deliver in London - but the whole thing is boringly and blandly shot, and the acting would shame the Charles Vance Players. Even the Haslemere Thespians could have done a better job.

It was an awful fashion year, and the oilman's rather chunky girlfriend sports some frumpy outfits and the most dreadful hat I think I've ever seen.

I have to say contrary to all other reviewers who seem to be disappointed in this movie -I found it very entertaining and it was that Paul Maxwell as the male lead played it so well at being a seemingly harrassed and irritated individual -but in a such an understated way it was quite remarkable-- I actually found it so engaging subsquently amusing that I have watched it over and over agian --right from the first scene in the Hotel foyer when Mr Martin checks in-- the staff on the reception are basically asleep -in fact the dozy receptionist had to wake up the hotel luggage boy who had nodded off--was hillarious in itself.-then the fun starts the as Mr Martin (ie) Paul Maxwell is relentlessy immersed in.a continual stream of devious characters who irritate the hell out of him -love the whole movie -as did my daughter Michelle and Jeff her partner -they said it was lovely to watch a movie that wasnt all noise and relying on special effects -

Yet another example of a budget-constrained small studio misguidedly believing that bringing in a B list Canadian actor to pose as American will give the film an international appeal. It doesn't. The lead character Martin (Paul Maxwell) and his girlfriend (Clare Owen) have about as much charisma as a block of Cathedral Cheddar cheese. At least the chief baddie Sharp (John Arnatt) gets to ham it up and say "I've been expecting you Mr Martin " in true sub-Blofeld mode. Nice to see Reginald Marsh, who many of my generation will remember from various 70's sit coms as the boss who's suddenly coming to dinner, appear as one of the good team.

Paul Maxwell is an oil executive about to fly to England, where he will spend some time with fiancee Clare Owen, then on to New York. An Englishman asks him to give a message to a man in London, explaining it's Secret Service stuff. Maxwell agrees. At the airport he is met by what he thinks is the man..... only he's not. He and Miss Owen agree to act as bait to trap the bad guys.

It's a nice set-up for a spy thriller, but then the script continues in the most boring way imaginable, with two men at a time on tiny sets talking about what is going on. The end opens up a little, as the action moves to boats on the Thames..... as two men at a time, on tiny sets, discuss what is going on. It's all very dull stuff, despite the belly dancer in the first sequence.