''Man on the Run'' is a 1949 British

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

directed, written and produced by

Lawrence Huntington Lawrence Huntington (9 March 1900 – 1968) was a UK, British film director, screenwriter and film producer, producer. Huntington was born in London on 9 March 1900, he directed more than thirty films following his debut feature ''After Many Year ...

and starring Derek Farr,

Joan Hopkins Joan Hopkins (31 August 1915 – 27 December 2002) was a British stage and film actress. During the late 1940s she appeared in starring roles in several productions, including Princess Charlotte in '' The First Gentleman'' and as Helen in the b ...

, Edward Chapman,

Kenneth More Kenneth Gilbert More (20 September 1914 – 12 July 1982) was an English actor. Initially achieving fame in the comedy ''Genevieve (film), Genevieve'' (1953), he appeared in many roles as a carefree, happy-go-lucky gent. Films from this period ...

and

Laurence Harvey Laurence Harvey (born Zvi Mosheh Skikne; 1 October 192825 November 1973) was a Lithuanian-born British actor and film director. He was born to Lithuanian Jewish parents and emigrated to Union of South Africa, South Africa at an early age, before ...

Plot

An army deserter, still a fugitive in post-war Britain, wanders into a pawn shop robbery and finds himself mistakenly wanted for murder. Forced to go on the run while attempting to prove his innocence, he meets a war widow who helps him elude the police while he looks for the real criminals.

Cast

* Derek Farr as Sergeant Peter Burden, alias Brown *

as Jean Adams * Edward Chapman as Chief Inspector Mitchell *

as Detective Sergeant Lawson *

Howard Marion-Crawford Howard Marion-Crawford (17 January 1914 – 24 November 1969), was an English People, English character actor, best known for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes (1954 TV series), 1954 television adaptation of Sherlock Holmes ...

as 1st paratrooper *

Alfie Bass Alfie Bass (born Abraham Basalinsky, 10 April 1916 – 16 July 1987) was an English actor. He was born in Bethnal Green, London, the youngest in a Jewish family with ten children; his parents had left Russia many years before he was born. He a ...

as Bert the barge mate * John Bailey as Dan Underwood, burglar * John Stuart as Detective Inspector Jim McBane *

Edward Underdown Charles Edward Underdown (3 December 190815 December 1989) was an English theatre, cinema and television actor. Early Life Underdown was the son of Harry Charles Baillie Underdown and Rachel Elizabeth Orr. Born in London, he was educated at Et ...

as Slim Elfey, burglar missing fingers * Leslie Perrins as Charlie the fence *

as Corporal Newman the blackmailer * Martin Miller as Tony, cafe proprietor * Cameron Hall as Reg Hawkins *

Eleanor Summerfield Eleanor Audrey Summerfield (7 March 1921 – 13 July 2001) was an English actress who appeared in many plays, films and television series. She is known for her roles in ''Laughter in Paradise'' (1951), '' Final Appointment'' (1954), '' Odongo'' ...

as May Baker, Anchor Hotel * Anthony Nicholls as station Inspector (Wapping) *

Valentine Dyall Valentine Dyall (7 May 1908 – 24 June 1985) was an English character actor. He worked regularly as a voice actor, and was known for many years as "The Man in Black", the narrator of the BBC Radio horror series '' Appointment with Fear'' ...

as Army Judge advocate * Howard Douglas as Sweeny (The Bargee) * Laurence Ray as Andy * Bruce Belfrage as BBC Announcer * Robert Adair as Morgan *

Charles Paton Charles Ernest Paton (31 July 1874 – 10 April 1970) was an English film actor. He joined the circus at 14, and had early stage and music hall experience. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1927 and 1952, including ''Freedom of the ...

as 2nd Hand Clothes Shop Proprietor * Basil Cunard as 2nd Pub Type (Soho Pub) * Jack McNaughton as 1st Pub Type (Soho Pub) * Virginia Winter as 1st Barmaid (Soho Pub) * Margaret Goodman as Rosa * La lage Lewis as Lily *

Patrick Barr Patrick David Barr (13 February 1908 – 29 August 1985) was an English actor. In his career spanning over half a century, he appeared in about 144 films and television series. Biography Born in Akola, British India in 1908, Barr was educat ...

as Plain Clothes Man (Cab scene) * Gerald Case as Policeman (Waterloo Bridge) * John Boxer as Radio Control Officer * Roy Russell as Mobile Police Sergeant * R

Stuart Lindsell Reginald Stuart Lindsell (18 July 1892, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire – 9 July 1969, London) was a British actor, often seen in upper-class roles. He was sometimes credited as R. Stuart Lindsell. He also served as an officer in the Middlesex R ...

as Elliott *

Arthur Mullard Arthur Ernest Mullard ( né Mullord; 19 September 1910His obituary in ''The Times'' gives his date of birth as 10 November 1910 but conflicts with the birthdate given in his death registration. His year of birth appears as 1908, 1910, 1912 and 19 ...

as man standing at the bar (uncredited)

Reception

Box office

As of 1 April 1950 the film earned distributor's gross receipts of £64,453 in the UK of which £35,947 went to the producer. The film made a loss of £74,142.

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "Although this film has good atmosphere provided by the authentic setting in Soho, it is singularly lacking in enterprise and originality, and fails to maintain the suspense and excitement of the opening sequence. This might have been a swift exciting chase film if lengthy moralising on the highly controversial subject of clemency for deserters had been avoided, and tasteful subtlety shewn by leaving the hero's reason for deserting to our imagination, instead of explaining his behaviour with maudlin sentimental excuses. The unnecessary inclusion of the court-martial after the climax of the film results in pure bathos." In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Pacy thrills and spills if not much credibility."

References

External links

* 1949 films Films shot at Associated British Studios British drama films 1949 drama films Films directed by Lawrence Huntington Films set in London Films set in Sussex British black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1940s English-language films 1940s British films 1950s British films Films scored by Philip Green {{1940s-UK-film-stub