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Crossroads to Crime (1960) Online

Crossroads to Crime (1960) Online
Original Title :
Crossroads to Crime
Genre :
Movie / Crime
Year :
1960
Directror :
Gerry Anderson
Cast :
Anthony Oliver,Ferdy Mayne,George Murcell
Writer :
Alun Falconer,Edgar Wallace
Type :
Movie
Time :
57min
Rating :
5.3/10
Crossroads to Crime (1960) Online

PC Don Ross suspects that a gang of lorry hijackers, operating from a transport café, is behind a series of vehicle thefts. When his suspicions are dismissed by his superiors, Ross decides to conduct his own undercover investigation, and sets out to collect vital evidence that could convict the gang..
Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Oliver Anthony Oliver - Don Ross
Ferdy Mayne Ferdy Mayne - Miles
George Murcell George Murcell - Diamond
Miriam Karlin Miriam Karlin - Connie Williams
Victor Maddern Victor Maddern - Len
Patricia Heneghan Patricia Heneghan - Joan Ross
Arthur Rigby Arthur Rigby - Sergeant Pearson
David Graham David Graham - Johnny
Harry Towb Harry Towb - Paddy
Bill Sawyer Bill Sawyer - Lorry Driver
Terence Brook Terence Brook - Harry
Geoffrey Denton Geoffrey Denton - Butler
J. Mark Roberts J. Mark Roberts - Phillips
Donald Tandy Donald Tandy - Basher
David Sale David Sale - Youth

Notable as the first live-action Gerry Anderson production and the only one to date without some form of fantasy element in it.

The pinball machine that Paddy plays in the cafe is an "Ace High" made by D. Gottlieb & Co. from 1957.


User reviews

Prorahun

Prorahun

When you hear the name Gerry Anderson most people will think of classic animated fantasy serials such as Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet but in the 1970s he also directed live action dramas including Space 1999 and The Protectors. However this neat crime drama proves that he was already doing so as early as 1960 although it appears to be his only foray into this field at the time.

The film stars Anthony Oliver as Police officer Don Ross who discovers a ruthless group of hijackers are using a transport café and petrol station as a base. He ends up investigating alone, taking bribes from gang leader Diamond (George Murcell) to make them think he is on their side and eventually works with them on a robbery to steal a load of nickel. It all ends with a shoot out at the gangs HQ with gang member Johnny turning out to be another undercover policeman who helps Ross put a stop to the gang's activities.

The film boasts an impressive cast with Ferdy Mayne as gang boss Miles (one of a long line of creepy screen villains), George Murcell as gang leader Diamond, David Graham (and Gerry Anderson stalwart) as Johnny and ever-reliable Harry Towb and Victor Maddern as lorry drivers. Less impressive are Miriam Karlin as chain-smoking cafe owner Connie who can't seem to recall from scene-to-scene whose side her character is supposed to be on, and Arthur Rigby as the Police Sergeant whose eye-rolling antics and mugging to camera do not pass as acting in my book.

There are one or two unintentionally comical moments, most notably the early scene where Ross witnesses Diamond and his henchmen roughing up Connie before bundling her into a car. Ross quickly runs up to help her, ending up clinging on to the side of the car while it accelerates along the road. This goes on for some time and, while dramatic, is rather badly done in long shot with the uniformed figure rather obviously being a cheap dummy adhered to the car door. Also the score by Barry Gray, whilst very nicely done, falls some way short of being apt for a serious crime drama and is perhaps more suitable for a kids animation show.

The opening titles reveal this to be part of the long running Merton Park Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre series. However while produced by Anglo-Amalgamated it was not made at Merton Park but at Anderson's APF studios in Maidenhead. It was not based on a book by Edgar Wallace but from an original story. It was seemingly later added to the Edgar Wallace roster. Interestingly Barry Gray has written a nice, gentler arrangement of Michael Carr's classic Edgar Wallace opening title theme, with woodwind, strings and accordion replacing the usual guitar. Curiously the bust of Edgar Wallace looks a bit like Mr Anderson!

The film was made on location in Slough and Maidenhead (and partly at the Halliford Studios in Shepperton). Connie's cafe is actually The Barton Cafe which was located opposite Anderson's APF Studios in Maidenhead.
SlingFire

SlingFire

When I hear that evocative theme music and the bust of Edgar Wallace I can imagine myself back in the circle of the AND Golders Green at around 430 on a Sunday afternoon.This film is one of dozens of B films made at Merton Park.The film gets off to an exciting start with a policeman hanging on for dear life to a Ford Zephyr travelling at around 40 miles per hour.After that it is all rather downbeat hill with a pedestrian plot and a rather laboured climax.Anthony Oliver plays the policeman who for some reason decides to try and get the gang on his own.Given a desperate release by Network by virtue of the director Gerry Anderson who went on to greater success with puppets.