Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960)

Peter Carter meets official resistance when he finds his 9 year old daughter has been the victim of the pedophile patriarch of the town's most powerful family.

Director:

Cyril Frankel

Writers:

John Hunter (screenplay), Roger Garis (play)

Stars:

Gwen Watford, Patrick Allen, Felix Aylmer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gwen Watford	...	Sally Carter
Patrick Allen	...	Peter Carter
Felix Aylmer	...	Clarence Olderberry Sr.
Niall MacGinnis	...	Defense Counsel
Alison Leggatt	...	Martha
Bill Nagy	...	Clarence Jr
Michael Gwynn	...	Prosecutor
Budd Knapp	...	Hammond
MacDonald Parke	...	Judge
Estelle Brody	...	Eunice Kalliduke
Helen Horton	...	Sylvia Kingsley
Robert Arden	...	Tom Demarest
Gaylord Cavallaro	...	Neal Phillips
Vera Cook	...	Mrs. Demarest
Janina Faye	...	Jean Carter

Storyline

Jean Carter, nine-year-old daughter of the town's newly-appointed school principal, Peter Carter and his wife Sally, is playing in the woods with her 11-year-old friend Lucille, when Jean discovers she has lost her purse containing her "candy" money. Lucille tells her she knows where they can get sweets for nothing, and leads her to an imposing mansion, from which the owner, Clarence Olderberry, Sr., a tall, gaunt man of 70 has been watching the girls from a window. That night Jean, unable to sleep, tells her parents that Oldeberry made her and Lucille dance before him nude in exchange for some candy. Carter files a complaint, but the local police chief, Captain Hammond, is skeptical of Jean's story and warns Carter that the Oldenberry family put the town on the map and have far more standing in the community than the new-comer Carters. Oldenberry, Jr. also tells Carter that if he follows up on the complaint he may be certain that Oldenberry's lawyers will show Jean no mercy. In the ...

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Plot Keywords:

candy | rowboat | trial | principal | patriarch | 

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Taglines:

Six Words That Sound A Fateful Warning!

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Never Take Candy from a Stranger

Filming Locations:

Black Park Country Park, Wexham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[Peter brings Jean home. The police and many town people gather around. Sally hugs Jean. Clarence Olderberry Jr. approaches them, grief-stricken and distraught after discovering what his father did to Lucille]
Clarence Jr: [to Peter and Sally] He killed her! My father... he killed that little girl!
Sally Carter: Ho, no!
Jean Carter: Mommy... I was frightened.
Sally Carter: [hugs Jean closely] It's alright, darling. You're safe now. You're home.
[Sally takes Jean into the house]
Sally Carter: Excuse me.
[...]

User Reviews

I know where you can get a copy of this film.

An excellent movie which,in my opinion,did not get the recognition it deserved.I saw this film on the cinema,more years ago than I care to remember.At that time it was rated with what was known as an "X" certificate,which meant that anyone under the age of sixteen was not legally allowed to go into the cinema to watch this film.I also felt that this rating was ill-judged,since it is a film that children ought to be allowed to see,since it sounds out a powerful warning. A film which ought to be revived,particularly in the light of Soham.The title of the film is very misleading,since the offender in this film was,as in the Soham case,not a stranger to the children concerned. I do know how to obtain a copy of this film on video.It is a must for parents with young children,they should allow their children to watch it and heed the warning!