The Weapon (film)
The Weapon | |
---|---|
Directed by | Val Guest Hal E. Chester (uncredited) |
Written by | Hal E. Chester Fred Freiberger |
Produced by | Frank Bevis Hal E. Chester |
Starring | Steve Cochran Lizabeth Scott Herbert Marshall Nicole Maurey |
Cinematography | Reginald H. Wyer |
Edited by | Peter Rolfe Johnson |
Music by | James Stevens |
Production companies | Republic Pictures Periclean Productions |
Distributed by | Eros Films (UK) |
Release date | September 1956 |
Running time | 77 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
The Weapon is a 1956 British thriller film directed by Val Guest and starring Steve Cochran, Lizabeth Scott, Herbert Marshall, and Nicole Maurey. It was made by Republic Pictures.[1] Its themes were originally explored in the 1951 British film The Yellow Balloon.[2]
The film was shot at Walton Studios, with sets designed by art director John Stoll.
Plot[]
Elsa Jenner (Lizabeth Scott) is a widowed mother to her young son Erik. Whilst playing with friends in an abandoned derelict building, Erik finds a small handgun stuck in a lump of concrete. As all the boys try to pull it free, it accidentally fires a shot from Erik's hands, hitting another boy. Believing he has killed his friend, Erik immediately runs away.
Efforts for locating Erik is led by Captain Mark Andrews (Steve Cochran), soon discovers the gun Erik found has a past that may have caused a dangerous criminal to pursue the young boy. As he inches closer to finding Erik, Andrews comes across Vivienne (Nicole Maurey), a dance-hall hostess with a connection to the gun's original owner. But she has all but lost her faith in all things good, declaring to Andrews: "I am dead."
As Andrews continues his investigation into the gun's whereabouts, Erik's mother Elsa finally locates her son with the helpful assistance of relative stranger Joshua Henry. Erik had apparently stolen a bottle of milk from Henry but does not remember doing so. It soon becomes clear that Henry has ill intentions, prompting Elsa to demand that Erik run away for help. Henry runs after the boy, leaving Elsa in the passenger side of a speeding car.
After crashing into a ditch, members of the public come to Elsa's aid. Among them is Captain Andrews, with whom Elsa pleads not to worry about her, and to save her son instead. Andrews immediately enters the old building into which Henry was seen running, and shots are fired. After both parties exhaust their weapons, a long fall to death awaits.
Cast[]
- Steve Cochran as Mark Andrews
- Lizabeth Scott as Elsa Jenner
- George Cole as Joshua Henry
- Herbert Marshall as Superintendent Mackenzie
- Nicole Maurey as Vivienne
- Jon Whiteley as Erik
- Laurence Naismith as Jamison
- Stanley Maxted as The Colonel
- Denis Shaw as Groggins
- John Horsley as Johnson
- Fred Johnson as Fitzsimmons
- Frazer Hines as Jimmy (uncredited)
- Peter Godsell as David (uncredited)
- Terry Cooke as Johnny (uncredited)
Critical reception[]
Britmovie called the film "a well-crafted, energetic suspense thriller",[2] while Leonard Maltin called it a "minor but trim story of youngster who accidentally shoots his pal and runs away."[3]
External links[]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "The Weapon". BFI. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012.
- ^ a b "The Weapon".
- ^ "The Weapon (1957) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
- English-language films
- Films directed by Val Guest
- Republic Pictures films
- British films
- 1956 films
- 1950s English-language films
- Films shot at Nettlefold Studios
- 1950s thriller films
- British thriller films
- Films set in London