Date with Disaster
{{Short description|1957 British film by Charles Saunders}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Date with Disaster
| image = Date with Disaster.jpg
| caption =
| director = Charles Saunders
| producer = Guido Coen
|based_on =
| writer =Brock Williams
| narrator =
| starring = Tom Drake
William Hartnell
Shirley Eaton
| music = Reg Owen
Anthony Spurgin
| cinematography = Brendan J. Stafford
| editing =Tom Simpson
| studio = Fortress Film Productions
| distributor =Eros Films
Astor Picture (US)
| released = {{Film date|1957|07|18|df=yes}}
| runtime = 61 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Date with Disaster is a 1957 British second feature ('B'){{Cite book |last1=Chibnall |first1=Steve |title=The British 'B' Film |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=BFI/Bloomsbury |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=129}} crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Tom Drake, William Hartnell and Shirley Eaton.{{Cite web |title="Date with Disaster" |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150150474 |access-date=1 November 2023 |publisher=British Film Institute}} It weas written by Brock Williams. An innocent man becomes a suspect for a crime he did not commit.
Plot
Miles is a young honest car salesman, but his business partners Don and Ken are crooks. While Miles is away, Don and Ken collude with professional criminal Tracey to break into a factory and steal £20,000, using as their getaway vehicle a car they have
Cast
- Tom Drake as Miles
- William Hartnell as Tracey
- Shirley Eaton as Sue
- Maurice Kaufmann as Don
- Michael Golden as Inspector Matthews
- Richard Shaw as Ken
- Charles Brodie as Charlie
- Deidre Mayne as Judy
- Peter Fontaine as Sergeant Brace
- Robert Robinson as young man
- John Drake as Constable Wilson
- Robert J. Mooney as Sergeant
- Van Boolen as night watchman
Production
The film was made at Southall Studios in London. Location shooting took place around Southall and Chiswick. The film's sets were designed by the art director Herbert Smith.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
Critical reception
Monthly Film Bulletin said "A stereotypical and unremarkable small-scale thriller, with performances and direction adequate for the matter in hand."{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1957 |title="Date with Disaster" |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305820348 |journal=Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=24 |issue=276 |pages=114 |via=ProQuest}}
Kine Weekly wrote: "Taut, handy-sized crime melodrama. ... There is plenty of action and a spot of popular romance to offset the rough stuff and its shrewdly chosen players, headed by Tom Drake, the American star, easily meet all acting and physical demands. ... The picture quickly gets down to brass tacks and resolute acting and direction keep the interest held. Tom Drake registers as the stolid, no-nonsense Miles, Maurice Kaufmann and Richard Shaw convince as crooks Don and Ken, William Hartnell is responsible for a neat cameo as Tracy, and Shirley Eaton pleases as Sue. The interiors and exteriors are adequate, and the climax hectic."{{Cite journal |date=18 July 1957 |title=Date with Disaster |volume=483 |issue=2605 |pages=18 |id={{ProQuest|2826281052}} |magazine=Kine Weekly}}
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Follows a well-worn path."{{Cite book |last=Quinlan |first=David |title=British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 |publisher=B.T. Batsford Ltd. |year=1984 |isbn=0-7134-1874-5 |location=London |pages=299}}
The Cinema described it as "a very useful co-feature ... capable direction and well-handled suspense."{{Cite journal |date=16 July 1957 |title=Date with Disaster |journal=The Cinema |pages=14}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0126856}}
- [https://www.reelstreets.com/films/date-with-disaster/ Date with Disaster] at [https://www.reelstreets.com/ ReelStreets]
{{Films by Charles Saunders|state=collapsed}}
{{Portal bar|1950s|Film|London}}
Category:Films directed by Charles Saunders
Category:Films shot at Southall Studios
Category:1950s English-language films