The Long Haul (1957)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Ken Hughes

Writers:

Ken Hughes (writer)
Mervyn Mills (novel)

Release Date:

December 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

SILK, FLESH AND DYNAMITE! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

After being discharged from the U.S. Army in Germany, Harry reluctantly follows his wife to England where he lands a job as a truck driver...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Based On Novel

Cast

Victor Mature	...	Harry Miller
Gene Anderson	...	Connie Miller
Patrick Allen	...	Joe Easy
Diana Dors	...	Lynn
Liam Redmond	...	Casey
Peter Reynolds	...	Frank
Michael Wade	...	Butch Miller
Dervis Ward	...	Mutt
Murray Kash	...	Jeff
Jameson Clark	...	MacNaughton
John Harvey	...	Supt. Macrea
Roland Brand	...	Army sergeant
Stanley Rose	...	Foreman
Barry Raymond	...	Depot manager
John Welsh	...	Doctor

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1957) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Marksman Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

Columbia Pictures released this film on a double feature with The Hard Man (1957) with the tag line: "The Long Haul will DELIGHT You! The Hard Man Will EXCITE You!"

MANY FINE CONTRIBUTIONS CAN NOT OVERCOME THE SCRIPT.

This is a stalwart attempt to produce an example of British Noir, its screenplay reducing its importance. Distributed by Columbia, this work based upon a novel by Mervyn Mills was well received in England, due in large part to popularity of its principal female player, Diana Dors, whose skill as actress stands and falls solely upon her physical attributes. Victor Mature portrays Harry Miller, an American soldier who, after his discharge in Germany, moves to England with wife Connie (Gene Anderson) and son since his spouse rejects all attempts to return to the United States with his new family. Harry finds employment, through an uncle of his wife, as a truck driver, his occupation in military service, and carries out his duties with diligence, but tension increases for the married pair because of Connie's determination to remain in England near her family. Harry's strained home life makes him vulnerable to a liaison with Lynn (Dors), girl friend of illicit marketeer Joe Easy (Patrick Allen) and the ex-G.I. soon forsakes his honour by becoming embroiled in smuggling operations with Easy. The script written by director Ken Hughes is hackneyed as Hughes relies upon melodrama at the expense of character development, as evidenced by his often trite dialogue. Not surprisingly then the most interesting action takes place during scenes requiring little discussion, when Harry, Joe and Lynn are struggling to maneuver a large fur-laden rig across rocky expanses in the Scottish Highlands to rendezvous with an anchored vessel. Mature makes the best of his lines, giving an earnest performance but acting honours go to Allen with his consistent reading as Harry's dishonest boss and rival for Lynn's affection, while good turns are given by Liam Redmond and John Welsh; Dors is barely adequate, until she speaks. Suitably atmospheric jazzy scoring by Trevor Duncan and Basil Emmott's fluid camerawork are impressive, along with skillful contributions from Raymond Poulton (editing) and John Hoesli (sets), all sadly minimized due to a banal scenario.