A freelance fashion model called Caroline Markham (played by Zena Marshall) finds herself the unwitting courier of smuggled wrist watches whilst holidaying in France. A gang led by the smooth and charming Jean Lecraze (played by Arnold Diamond) use the petrol tank of her Sunbeam sports car to sneak the goods into Britain. However, on her return she takes her car into a garage for a service and she is supplied with an identical courtesy car, which means that when Lecraze's gang steal it expecting to retrieve the watches they find that they are missing. Thinking that Caroline has stolen their haul, they abduct her and threaten to kill her unless she tells them where they are. Caroline's new boyfriend, a salesman called John Curry (played by Conrad Phillips), sets out to rescue her with the help of customs man Bill Craddock (played by Anthony Steel) and Yard man Inspector Tomlinson (played by Dermot Walsh)...
A pretty standard British 'B'-pic with an unremarkable plot that provides only a modicum of tension. However, the real pleasures to be had from watching it are the attractive period locations of London and the Home Counties as well as the abundance of vintage cars pottering about like Sunbeams, Ford Zephyrs, Prefects and many others. It also has an interesting cast including Anthony Steel, 'B'-movie regular Dermot Walsh, former William Tell star Conrad Phillips and even future Carry On mainstay Peter Butterworth puts in an unaccredited appearance as a fashion photographer. On the acting side, Phillips and Marshall stand out as the pair brought together by their predicament of unwittingly becoming the targets of a criminal gang and, as a result, they fall in love. The script allows for some humorous interplay between them. Director Peter Maxwell handles the proceedings with brisk paced efficiency even if he fails to create much in the way of suspense or dramatic attention. The film is superbly photographed by Stephen Dade, which gives it a much needed sense of place and period. All in all, a pleasant reminder of an era of British filmmaking that has long since disappeared.
A pretty standard British 'B'-pic with an unremarkable plot that provides only a modicum of tension. However, the real pleasures to be had from watching it are the attractive period locations of London and the Home Counties as well as the abundance of vintage cars pottering about like Sunbeams, Ford Zephyrs, Prefects and many others. It also has an interesting cast including Anthony Steel, 'B'-movie regular Dermot Walsh, former William Tell star Conrad Phillips and even future Carry On mainstay Peter Butterworth puts in an unaccredited appearance as a fashion photographer. On the acting side, Phillips and Marshall stand out as the pair brought together by their predicament of unwittingly becoming the targets of a criminal gang and, as a result, they fall in love. The script allows for some humorous interplay between them. Director Peter Maxwell handles the proceedings with brisk paced efficiency even if he fails to create much in the way of suspense or dramatic attention. The film is superbly photographed by Stephen Dade, which gives it a much needed sense of place and period. All in all, a pleasant reminder of an era of British filmmaking that has long since disappeared.
