You Can't Escape
| You Can't Escape | |
|---|---|
.jpg) U.S. poster | |
| Directed by | Wilfred Eades |
| Written by | Robert Hall Doreen Montgomery |
| Based on | She Died Young by Alan Kennington[1] |
| Produced by | Robert Hall |
| Starring | Noelle Middleton Guy Rolfe Robert Urquhart Peter Reynolds |
| Cinematography | Norman Warwick |
| Edited by | E.B. Jarvis |
| Music by | Charles Williams |
Production company | Forth Films |
| Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé |
Release date |
|
Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
You Can't Escape is a 1956 British second feature ('B')[2] drama film directed by Wilfred Eades and starring Noelle Middleton, Guy Rolfe and Robert Urquhart.[3][4] It was written by Robert Hall and Doreen Montgomery based on the 1938 novel She Died Young by Alan Kennington.[5]
Plot
[edit]Rising novelist, Peter Darwin, has a row with former mistress Claire, and accidentally kills her. He somehow manages to persuades his reluctant fiancé Kay to help him bury Claire's body in a wood. But when the body is found, and a blackmailing journalist appears on the scene, Darwin resorts to desperate measures to cover his tracks, including framing an innocent person.
Cast
[edit]- Noelle Middleton as Kay March
- Guy Rolfe as David Anstruther
- Robert Urquhart as Peter Darwin
- Peter Reynolds as Rodney Nixon
- Elizabeth Kentish as Claire Segar
- Barbara Cavan as Aunt Sue
- Martin Boddey as Inspector Crane
- Thorley Walters as Chadwick
- Jacqueline Mackenzie as Mrs. Baggerley
- Thorley Walters as Chadwick
- Wensley Pithey as Constable Wagstaff
- Edward Forsyth as Colonel Tripp
- Barbara Leake as Mrs. Trussler
- Sam Kydd as Ted, Poacher
- Hal Osmond as Poacher's Friend
- Victor Platt as Darts Player
- Arthur Gross as Bystander
- Noel Coleman as Official
- Robert Cawdron as Pugilist
- Maureen Connell as 1st Peasant Blouse
- Sally Bazely as 2nd Peasant Blouse
- Alec Finter as Foreman of The Jury
Release
[edit]It was released as an 'A' certificate.[6] Though filmed in 1.33:1, it was also framed in 1.66:1 for any theatre that had the equipment to exhibit widescreen films.[citation needed]
Critical reception
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A stereotyped murder melodrama, which ambles unexcitingly towards a conclusion that the spectator has anticipated long before the film reaches that far. Playing and direction are somewhat lifeless."[7]
TV Guide concluded there was "Nothing much to get excited about."[8]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "poor", writing: "Very lacklustre thriller."[9]
My Reviewer found the film "full of action from the off and whilst it all feels a little dated now, it has a certain old school charm – like the very best of ITC shows from back in the day."[10]
Blueprint Review wrote, "Despite its rather stagey tone You Can’t Escape remains a fun example of British B-movies from that era."[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 – via Google Books.
- ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "You Can't Escape". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "You Can't Escape (1956)". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (11 November 2024). "Peter Reynolds: Forgotten Cad". Filmink. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "You Can't Escape". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ "You Can't Escape". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 23 (264): 35. 1 January 1956. ProQuest 1305819563.
- ^ "You Can't Escape". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016.
- ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 403. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
- ^ "myReviewer.com - Review for You Can't Escape".
- ^ Richards, Justin (24 July 2015). "You Can't Escape". Blueprint Review. Retrieved 15 March 2025.