We're back on track, all caught up and on a regular movie schedule, and last night we watched "The Gentle Trap"(1960), another Butchers Film in which young "Johnny Ryan" (Spencer Teakle) a locksmith, is on his first safecracking job, accompanying "Sam" (Arthur Hewlett), an old robber out for one last heist. The movie opens with tracking shots of their car as it cruises through slick city streets toward its destination, a brick building in a warehouse district. They park, sneak in and know right where the safe is. No explanation is given to whom it belongs, or how they got their info on the diamonds inside, but that's not the plot. Instead it's about the aftermath: after Johnny and Sam steal the ice and leave, we see they've been watched the entire time. A shadowy figure signals a car across the alley, which runs over Sam. Two thugs then jump out and knock Johnny cold. They steal the diamonds from his getaway briefcase, or at least they think they've stolen them, until they bring the case back to the originator of the double cross, a nightclub owner named "Ricky Barnes" (Martin Benson). I have to cut in here to say that I love how nightclub owners are always villainous in b-Noirs. They're the equivalent of saloon owners in 60 minute westerns, who are also always portrayed as crooks. No British actor is more villainous than Martin Benson, whom we've seen many times now in these flicks, and he's furious when the briefcase turns out to be empty. His thugs got tricked by the amateur Johnny, who - as trained by old Sam - carried a decoy briefcase. The thugs know Sam is dead, but Johnny's gotten away by now. He still has the diamonds and might come back looking for revenge. Or, if he gets caught for the robbery, he could rat them out for Sam's murder.
In fact, when Johnny woke up from being cold cocked, he went straight to a lowbrow whorehouse run by "Mary" (Dorinda Stevens), a friend of Sam's. Mary is a tough hussy, but after some repartee bargaining, she lets Johnny stay the night. He's all beat up. Mary's innocent sister "Jean" (Felicity Young) is staying with her at the flophouse. She sees Johnny's bruised face, and wants to help him.
In the morning, Mary sees the paper, which describes the jewel robbery and murder of Sam. She puts two and two together and knows it's gotta be Johnny. After trying to blackmail the diamonds out of him, she threatens to tell Ricky Barnes, whom she knows. This leads to Johnny going on the run with Jean, Mary's sister, with the diamonds still in his possession. Mary then teams up with Ricky to chase Johnny down. They bring along a henchman, and "Sylvia" (Dawn Brooks), a treacherous nightclub singer who double crossed Johnny in the first place by tipping his diamond heist to Ricky.
Trailing the bad guys are the coppers, who, by now, know Ricky is mixed up in a double cross. Johnny swears he's gonna make Sylvia pay. Jean talks him out of revenge and the cops pull Ricky's car over in a ruse, to set him up for arrest for the murder of Sam. This is The Butchers at their most well executed, even if there isn't much to digest along the way. Butcher Films are always well shot and have good locations, meaning their movies look good. The acting is usually competent, too, but their stories? Hit or miss. Plot development is their Achilles heel. But they hold your attention in the other ways, so you watch them. Would you rather sit through a Will Farrell movie at 82 minutes? I rest my case. Two Big Thumbs Up for "The Gentle Trap". The picture is razor sharp. ////
The previous night, in "The Big Day"(1960), three middle-management types at a small automotive firm are selected as finalists for a directorship. Company president "Mr. Baker" (Colin Gordon) informs each man a week in advance, to give them time to prepare for the possible change in job status. The plot focuses on the company's accountant "Mr. Partridge" (Donald Pleasance), a quiet milquetoast (i.e. Donald Pleasance), who, it is revealed as the movie opens, is having an affair with his 19 year old secretary. Everyone at the firm would be shocked if they knew. Partridge of all people? And with a hottie less than half his age? We see them in her rented attic room, eating beans and toast. She loves him in the way only a 19 year old can, with great need and passion, wanting constant reaffirmations of his commitment: "do you really love me?" "Yes, dear. I do." She also wants to know, "if you get the directorship, will you keep me as your secretary? Everyone will eventually know about us. Do you care?"
What she really wants to know is "are you going to leave your wife?" Partridge does his best to placate her, but she's The Other Woman, and just a kid, with a young girl's nervous energy. She wants yes or no answers and can't stand Mr. Partridge's self pity (but it's in his contract because he's Donald Pleasance).
One of the other two candidates sees him and the girl, whose name is "Nina" (Andree Melly), at the local pub, holding hands. That's enough evidence for the guy to infer an affair, and he shows up at work the next day to nudge Partridge: "Saw ya with Miss Nina last night. Was ya workin' late?" Wink-nudge, yeah I might blackmail ya to the boss. The third candidate is "Mr. Selkirk" (William Franklyn), a brainy, handsome family man who's sure he's gonna be the chosen one because he's smarter than the other two, and better looking. He has an above-it-all attitude and doesn't participate in the office gossip about Partridge and Nina, except to report it to his wife.
Then there are the competing secretaries, three in all. One is Nina, another is the pretty, 35ish "Madge", who actually cares about Nina but scolds her in an attempt to set her straight about office affairs. The third is the frumpish "Mrs. Deeping" (Molly Urquhart), the executive secretary to Mr. Baker the president. Mrs. Deeping butts in on everyone else, thinking it her right as the boss's assistant . Madge puts her in her place, and it's all about office politics.
Mr. Baker, highly efficient as an expedient head man for the ownership, but not good at numbers or details, needs his underlings because they keep the ship running. He doesn't want a smart man like Selkirk competing with him for president, or an egomaniac like Jackson, the second candidate. He ends up choosing Mr. Partridge for the directorship, precisely because he's mediocre and a milquetoast. This presents Partridge with a problem: to accept the promotion and piggyback Nina his secretary (who by now everyone knows about), or to reject the directorship, quit the company, divorce his wife, and run off and marry Nina, knowing she'd eventually leave him anyway. She's 19, for cryin' out loud.
This one is all in the subtleties of life at the office, while wives wait at home making dinner. Two Big Thumbs verging on Two Huge. The acting stands out by every cast member. Pleasance, who would add psychos to his resume, is younger and thinner than usual, and he's always very good. Andree Melly is also good as Nina. But Colin Gordon as Mr. Baker is the best. The picture is razor sharp. ////
And that's all for tonight. My blogging music was "A Curious Feeling" by Tony Banks, my late night is the Belshazzar Opera by Handel. I hope your week is off to a good start and I send you Tons of Love as always. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo :):)
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