The Gilded Cage (1955 film)
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = The Gilded Cage
| image = "The_Gilded_Cage"_(1955).jpg
| caption =
| director = John Gilling
| producer = Robert S. Baker
Monty Berman
| screenplay = Brock Williams
Paul Erickson (story)
| based_on =
| narrator =
| starring = Alex Nicol
Veronica Hurst
Clifford Evans
| music = Stanley Black
| cinematography = Monty Berman
| editing = Jim Connock
| studio = Tempean Films
| distributor = Eros Films (UK)
| released = {{Film date|1955|02||UK}}
| runtime = 77 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
}}
The Gilded Cage is a 1955 second feature{{Cite book |last=Chibnall |first=Steve |title=The British 'B' Film |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=BFI/Bloomsbury |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=87}} British crime film directed by John Gilling and starring Alex Nicol, Veronica Hurst and Clifford Evans.{{Cite web |title=The Gilded Cage |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150029550 |access-date=15 November 2023 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}} It was written by Brock Williams from a story by Paul Erickson.
Plot
Two brothers become involved with criminals planning a major art heist involving the paintingThe Gilded Cage, only to be framed by them for the theft.
Cast
- Alex Nicol as Steve Anderson
- Michael Alexander as Harry Anderson
- Veronica Hurst as Marcia Farrell
- Clifford Evans as Ken Aimes
- Ursula Howells as Brenda Lucas
- Trevor Reid as Inspector Brace
- Elwyn Brook-Jones as Bruno
- John Stuart as Harding
- Kenneth Cope as hotel receptionist
- Ronan O'Casey as Trickson
Critical reception
Monthly Film Bulletin said "A modest mystery thriller, competently made except for a few wild improbabilities in the plot and a five-figure London telephone number. There are good performances by Elwyn Brooke-Jones and Clifford Evans."{{Cite journal |date=1955 |title=The Gilded Cage |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305825716/AF81274843D0480FPQ/3 |journal=Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=22 |issue=252 |pages=39 |via=ProQuest}}
Kine Weekly wrote: "Colourful, if somewhat dishevelled, crime melodrama. ... The characterisation and staging are adequate and, what with one and the other, it succeeds in extracting quite a few thrills from the tangled skein of the tale."{{Cite journal |date=20 January 1955 |title=The Gilded Cage |volume=454 |issue=2482 |pages=20 |id={{ProQuest|2826271778}} |magazine=Kine Weekly}}
Picturegoer wrote: "Vigorously handled by Alex Nicol, Veronica Hurst and Clifford Evans, seen as hero, heroine and villain respectively, it carries quite a kick."{{Cite journal |date=2 July 1955 |title=The Gilded Cage |volume=30 |issue= |pages=17 |id={{ProQuest|1705003332}} |magazine=Picturegoer}}
Picture Show wrote: "'Thrilling and fast-moving there is plenty of exciting action."{{Cite journal |date=9 July 1955 |title=The Gilded Cage |volume=65 |issue=1684 |pages=10 |id={{ProQuest|1879644763}} |magazine=Picture Show}}
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "After a string of supporting roles for Universal in the early 1950s, Alex Nicol earned a dubious promotion to leading man in this British thriller, co-starring Clifford Evans. Director John Gilling tries to push this tale of art theft and murder along at a decent pace, but spotting who framed Nichol's brother is hardly taxing."{{Cite book |title=Radio Times Guide to Films |publisher=Immediate Media Company |year=2017 |isbn=9780992936440 |edition=18th |location=London |pages=364}}
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Standard thriller, vigorously played."{{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=314}}
Sky Movies noted a "standard British thick-ear thriller of the Fifties ... Vigorous playing from a solid cast that includes Clifford Evans and Veronica Hurst sees the ingenuous story through."{{cite web |title=The Gilded Cage |url=http://skymovies.sky.com/the-gilded-cage/review#-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105021650/http://www.sky.com/tv/movie/the-gilded-cage-1955 |archive-date=5 Nov 2014 |work=Find and Watch}}
Releases
The film was released on DVD by Renown Pictures in 2013.
References
External links
- {{IMDb title|0047023}}
- [https://www.reelstreets.com/films/gilded-cage-the/ The Gilded Cage ] at [https://www.reelstreets.com/ ReelStreets]
{{John Gilling}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilded Cage, The}}
Category:Films directed by John Gilling
Category:1950s English-language films
Category:British black-and-white films