The Challenge (1960 film)
| The Challenge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Gilling |
| Written by | John Gilling |
| Produced by | John Temple-Smith |
| Starring | Jayne Mansfield and Anthony Quayle |
| Cinematography | Gordon Dines |
| Edited by | Alan Osbiston and John Victor-Smith |
| Music by | Bill McGuffie |
Production company | Alexandra |
| Distributed by | J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Challenge, released as It Takes a Thief in the United States, is a 1960 British neo noir crime film directed by John Gilling and starring Jayne Mansfield and Anthony Quayle.[1]
The film was shot in England from 12 October[2] to around December 1959. Mansfield flew back to America on the 16th, after she finished filming.[3]
Plot[]
Mansfield plays Billy, the ruthless gang leader who persuades Maxton to take part in a big robbery. Maxton is shopped and convicted of robbery. Maxton serves his time, returns home to his son. The gang want the money which he buried but Maxton wants nothing more to do with it or them. The gang then kidnap Maxton's son and demand the money as ransom. There follows a race against time to save Maxton's son. At the end of the film, a policeman tells Maxton that the stolen money had been found three years previously.[4]
Cast[]
- Jayne Mansfield ... Billy
- Anthony Quayle ... Jim
- Carl Möhner ... Kristy
- Peter Reynolds ... Buddy
- Barbara Mullen ... Ma Piper
- Robert Brown ... Bob Crowther
- Dermot Walsh ... Detective Sergeant Willis
- Patrick Holt ... Max
- Edward Judd ... Detective Sergeant Gittens
- John Bennett ... Spider
- Lorraine Clewes ... Mrs. Rick
- Percy Herbert ... Shop Steward
- John Stratton ... Rick
- Liane Marelli ... Striptease Artiste
- Bill McGuffie ... Nightclub Pianist
- Peter Pike ... Joey
Critical reception[]
- TV Guide wrote, "most of the actors, with the exception of Quayle, are pretty stiff, and the story is hardly inspired."[4]
- Sky Movies noted, "filled with such familiar leading men of British 'B' features as Peter Reynolds, Edward Judd, Dermot Walsh and Patrick Holt. Some of the best moments, though, are provided by Hollywood's Jayne Mansfield as the criminal mastermind, demure in black wig and horn-rimmed glasses as she does her 'firm's' books by day, but slinking around in sequins by night with a smile and a song."[5]
External links[]
References[]
- ^ "The Challenge | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Weekly Variety Magazine; 4 November 1959 issue; Page 17
- ^ Daily Variety Magazine; 18 December 1959 issue; Page 2
- ^ a b "It Takes A Thief Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ "The Challenge - Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 14 May 2003. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
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- 1960 films
- English-language films
- British films
- British neo-noir films
- 1960 crime films
- Films directed by John Gilling
- British crime films
- 1960s British film stubs
- 1960s crime film stubs