''The Green Carnation'' (also known as ''The Green Buddha'') is a 1954 British second feature ('B')

crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

directed by

John Lemont John Lemont (1914–2004) was a Canadian-born film and television director. He worked primarily in British television from 1954 to 1962, directing such TV series as ''Sir Francis Drake'', ''Sixpenny Corner'' and ''The Errol Flynn Theater'' among ot ...

and starring

Wayne Morris Wayne Morris (born Bert DeWayne Morris Jr. February 17, 1914 – September 14, 1959) was an American film and television actor, as well as a decorated World War II fighter ace. He appeared in many films, including '' Paths of Glory'' (1957), ' ...

, Mary Germaine and

Marcia Ashton Marcia Ashton (born 1 July 1932 in Sheffield, England) is an actress best known for her soap opera roles as Lily in ''Compact'' and as Jean Crosby in '' Brookside''. She has made numerous other television appearances including; ''EastEnders'', ' ...

. It was written by Paul Erickson and distributed by

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures is currently an acquisition-only label owned by Paramount Pictures. Its history dates back to Republic Pictures Corporation, an American film studio that originally operated from 1935 to 1967, based in Los Angeles, California ...

Plot

A criminal gang steal a priceless green Buddha statuette from a London exhibition. When nightclub singer Vivien Blake's boyfriend Gary Holden is assaulted by one of the gang, they go in search of the thieves. Vivien is kidnapped, and the chase leads to

Battersea Pleasure Gardens Battersea Park is a 200-acre (83-hectare) green space at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth in London. It is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea and was opened in 1858. The park occupies marshland recla ...

where two of the villains are killed. Gary and Vivien receive a reward.

Cast

Production

The film's sets were designed by

John Stoll John Stoll (13 December 1913 – 25 June 1990) was a British art director. He won an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film '' Lawrence of Arabia''. During the 1950s, he worked largely on low-budget British feature f ...

Reception

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: "An involved but exuberant penny-dreadful thriller." ''

Kine Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. Etymology The word Kinematograph was derived from the Greek ' Kinumai ', (to move, to be in motion, to ...

'' wrote: "Nutshell crime melodrama, describing a desperate fight among crooks for a rare Buddha. Its leading characters occasionally trip over each other, but a wide variety of London and country backgrounds partly atones for an over-crowded plot. Nothing if not eventful, it'll keep the middiebrows on the ''qui vive.'' ... The picture tells a very involved story, but its constant change of scene gives colour, if not complete conviction, to its rough stuff. Wayne Morris, the American star, makes the most of a far from flattering role as Gary, Mary Germaine pleases as Vivien, and Walter Rilla contributes a polished cameo as the wily Olsen." ''

Picturegoer ''Picturegoer'' was a fan magazine published in the United Kingdom between 1911 and 23 April 1960. Background The magazine was started in 1911 under the name ''The Pictures'' and in 1914 it merged with ''Picturegoer''. Following the merge it was ...

'' wrote: "Wayne Morris, as tough and taciturn as ever, makes good in this rather indifferent crime melodrama."

Leslie Halliwell Robert James Leslie Halliwell (23 February 1929 – 21 January 1989) was a British film critic, encyclopaedist and television rights buyer for ITV, the British commercial network, and Channel 4. He is best known for his reference guides, '' Fi ...

wrote "Fair second feature thick-ear." In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "What seems to be a quadruple cross is the only new element in this very familiar-looking material."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Green Carnation (film), The 1954 films British crime films 1954 crime films Films directed by John Lemont Films set in London Republic Pictures films 1950s English-language films British black-and-white films 1950s British films Films scored by Lambert Williamson English-language crime films