Thursday, 28 March 2024

Hell Drivers (1957 Cy Endfield & co-scr)

An unusual and tough British drama from HUAC refugee Cy Endfield, billed here as 'C. Ryker Endfield', who adapted John Kruse's short story  and they share the screenplay billing. Ex-con Stanley Baker joins a tough crew of haulage drivers whose principle financial motivation is speed. 'Red', Patrick McGoohan in intense form, is the speed king and informal leader of the pack. Interesting cast comprises Herbert Lom, Peggy Cummins, William Hartnell, Wilfred Lawson, Sid James, Jill Ireland, Alfie Bass, Gordon Jackson, David McCallum, Sean Connery and Marjorie Rhodes.

Geoffrey Unsworth shoots it in gritty black and white, with the odd bit of film speeding up here and there.



Baker and Endfield were united for Zulu. The quality of Baker's films nose-dived in the seventies; he died too young at 48 in 1976.

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