''Track the Man Down'' is a 1955 British black and white "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 R. G. Springsteen, starring Kent Taylor,

Petula Clark Sally "Petula" Clark (born 15 November 1932) is a British singer, actress, and songwriter. She started her professional career as a child actor, child performer and has had the longest career of any British entertainer, spanning more than 85 y ...

, and George Rose. It was written by Paul Erickson.

Plot

A robbery at a

greyhound The English Greyhound, or simply the Greyhound, is a dog breed, breed of dog, a sighthound which has been bred for coursing, greyhound racing and hunting. Some are kept as show dogs or pets. Greyhounds are defined as a tall, muscular, smooth-c ...

racetrack A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also us ...

results in the unintentional murder of a guard. The perpetrator leaves the loot with his girl friend, commandeers a motorcoach bound for

Southampton Southampton is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. It is located approximately southwest of London, west of Portsmouth, and southeast of Salisbury. Southampton had a population of 253, ...

, and holds hostage its diverse array of passengers, including an American newspaper reporter and the girl friend's resourceful sister.

Cast

* Kent Taylor as John Ford *

as June Dennis * George Rose as Rick Lambert * Kenneth Griffith as Ken Orwell *

Ursula Howells Ursula Howells (17 September 1922 – 16 October 2005) was an English actress whose elegant presence kept her much in demand for roles in film and television. Life and career Howells was born in London, the daughter of composer Herbert Howells, ...

as Mary Dennis *

Walter Rilla Walter Rilla (22 August 1894 – 21 November 1980) was a German film actor of Jewish descent. Siegbert Salomon Prawer, ''Between Two Worlds: The Jewish Presence in German and Austrian Film, 1910-1933'', Berghahn Books (2007), pg. 213 He app ...

as Austin Melford * Renée Houston as Pat Sherwood * Lloyd Lamble as Inspector Barnett * Richard Molinas as Luis Remino

Production

The film, the second made 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 ...

' British production company, was made at Walton Studios with sets designed by the

art director Art director is a title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, live-action and animated film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supe ...

John Stoll. Location shooting was at London's Victoria Station and along the banks of the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, s ...

Critical reception

In a contemporary review ''

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 ...

'' said "The story is not so much complicated as cluttered up by the introduction of too many characters; it is in any event a hackneyed and unexciting affair, having little to recommend it." ''

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: "Dishevelled, romantic crime melodrama about a brash reporter who luckily gets a scoop on a hunted man while trying to interview a temperamental actress. Much of the action takes glace on a coach bound for Southampton. But, unfortunately, many of the characters, although portrayed by popular and competent players, are little more than passengers." '' Picture Show'' wrote: "'Well-made thriller telling how a reporter and his girl-friend thwart the plans of a killer, in his attempt to make a get-away, when he commandeers a coach filled with passengers whom he holds captive. Briskly told and effectively acted, starring Kent Taylor and Petula Clark, while Renee Houston gives a delightful comedy performance as an actress." ''The Daily Film Renter'' wrote: "Forthright melodramatic elements, light hearted comedy threads, diverse backgrounds. ... Acceptable British offering for industrial bills." In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "poor", writing: "Fragmented, silly thriller; a few unintentional laughs. Virtually the end of Petula Clark's British screen career."

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, id=0047604, title=Track the Man Down 1955 films British crime drama films 1955 crime drama films Republic Pictures films Films directed by R. G. Springsteen Films shot at Nettlefold Studios Films shot in London Films set in London 1950s English-language films 1950s British films British black-and-white films Films scored by Lambert Williamson English-language crime drama films