The Siege of Pinchgut (1959)

Director:

Harry Watt

Writers:

Alexander Baron (additional dialogue)
Jon Cleary (writer)

Release Date:

August 1959 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

THE MOST CHILLING ULTIMATUM EVER HURLED AT THE SCREEN!..."do what I say or I'll blow the whole city to hell!" (U.S. newspaper ad for "Four Desperate Men")

Plot:

An escaped prisoner is trying to clear his name. |

Plot Keywords:

Island | Ealing | Locked Door | Milk | Trigger Happy

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Aldo Ray	...	Matt Kirk
Heather Sears	...	Ann Fulton
Neil McCallum	...	Johnny Kirk
Victor Maddern	...	Bert
Carlo Giustini	...	Luke (as Carlo Justini)
Alan Tilvern	...	Superintendent Hanna
Barbara Mullen	...	Mrs Fulton
Gerry Duggan	...	Pat Fulton
Kenneth J. Warren	...	Police Commissioner (as Kenneth Warren)
Grant Taylor	...	Constable Macey
Deryck Barnes	...	Sergeant Drake (as Derek Barnes)
Richard Vernon	...	Under Secretary
Ewan MacDuff	...	Naval Captain
Martin Boddey	...	Brigadier
Max Robertson	...	Motorcycle Policeman

Also Known As:

Four Desperate Men (USA)

Runtime:

100 min | West Germany:96 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:12 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Associated British Picture Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Ealing Studios

Great on-location photography in Ealing Studios last film.

While "The Siege of Pinchgut" is a no-brainer as far as plot, or even acting, it is a rare and distinctive film, being the last turned out by a great "little" British studio . Ealing only lasted twenty years -1939 to 1959, but it was a prominent entity on the world film scene during its brief reign. Today it is mostly known to historians and fans of the comedy genre as it produced what were (are) considered the very best of "British Comedies" of the period.However it also did very well with dramas as this film shows. They even attempted to start a studio in Sydney for continued production in Australia, but nothing came of it. The plot concerns escaped con played by Aldo Ray and three companions trying to escape at night aboard a boat. They run agrouind on "Pinchgut Island" -actually a small fort-in the middle of Sydney Harbour. They decide to hold hostage the keeper and his family while trying to get a reprieve from the governor. When that ploy fails, they turn a cannon on a ship loaded with explosives in the harbour, resulting in a standoff with the police sending sharpshooters up atop the harbour bridge arch. Great historical footage there. Now it costs tourists$50.00 Australian dollars for that thrill ! A great little film, from a great little studio.