The Secret is an odd little indie feature from mid 50s Britain. It stars Sam Wanamaker, still a relative newcomer to the UK, and a pre-Hammer Andre Morell in a tale of diamond smuggling set in post-war Brighton. The film was shot attractively in Eastmancolor by the always reliable Jack Asher, and the period portrait of that seaside resort is worth the price of admission alone. The film was apparently shot at 'Brighton Film Studio', whatever that was...I haven't seen any other films sporting that credit. Add in a nice turn by Harold Berens as wide boy Frank Farmer, and you have an enjoyable if minor crime film.
4 Reviews
Redemption Through Teddy Bears
boblipton6 October 2020
Sam Wanamaker is a puppeteer and ventriloquist stranded in Britain. He's staying with his aunt when a combination of circumstances has two children and a packet of smuggled diamonds dumped on him. He has the connections to dispose of the diamonds. To disguise the diamonds, he hides them in the teddy bear of one of the children, Mandy Miller. He then replaces the bear.... but the girl knows it's not hers. With child services, the police and friendly neighbor Jan Miller around, can Wanamaker get the money for the diamonds and get out of England?
Cy Enfield directs, as he so often does, an interestingly skewed movie. It starts out like a crime drama and turns out to be a Christmas film, albeit one released in June. There are also some nice shots of the countryside near Brighton.
Wanamaker may have been born the son of a Jewish tailor in Chicago, but he carved out a fairly distinguished career in England after he was blacklisted in the Red Scare. He directed and produced Shakespeare in Covent Garden and Stratford-on-Avon. His vision of rebuilding the Globe Theater was not realized until four years after his death in 1993 at age 74.
Cy Enfield directs, as he so often does, an interestingly skewed movie. It starts out like a crime drama and turns out to be a Christmas film, albeit one released in June. There are also some nice shots of the countryside near Brighton.
Wanamaker may have been born the son of a Jewish tailor in Chicago, but he carved out a fairly distinguished career in England after he was blacklisted in the Red Scare. He directed and produced Shakespeare in Covent Garden and Stratford-on-Avon. His vision of rebuilding the Globe Theater was not realized until four years after his death in 1993 at age 74.
A Knockout! Don't Miss!!!
GodeonWay11 March 2018
Caught this virtually unknown British crime film recently, only because I enjoy almost any British feature made in the early 1950s. Wasn't expecting much, but what a surprise!
The Secret's unusual plot line involves a police search for a missing mother of two children, who is feared drowned in the sea off Brighton. The brilliant Sam Wanamaker, in exile in Britain due to fears of McCarthyism back home, leads a very capable cast. There are believable and touching performances all around, with special mentions going to André Morell and to child actress 'Mandy' (Katie Martin).
The Eastmancolor in the print I viewed was badly faded, but it was easy to see how beautiful The Secret must have looked when first released in 1955. The location filming all over Brighton is a treat, and Cy Endfield's direction is more than competent. So glad I saw this one...it knocked me out.
The overwhelming importance of a lost teddy bear
clanciai9 October 2020
Although the film is brief, only 80 minutes, it is very intensive with a very crowded action all the way, from the seaside and cliffs of Brighton to idyllic family life with an aunt and two children, a suspected crime with the tragic loss of a mother, presenting a difficult trauma to deal with, a small love affair, some great performances with dummies of a ventriloquist, complications about a teddy bear getting knocked off and found again buried alive, some hoodlums gettting to work with dirty business and gangster procedures, hopes of a stranded American longing to get home with meagre prospects, the action is never relaxed but rather worrisome all the way, and Sam Wanamaker has reasons indeed to be worried, as he never intended to get mixed up with problems of controversial business. The children fly a kite that gets stranded, which ignites the greatest crisis of the film. What impresses about this film is the very eloquent direction, he brings out the best of all actors, also the non-professionals (as you suspect, because you never saw them in any other film,) and especially Sam Wanamaker, who is not good-looking but compensates this deficit by virtuoso acting, like in all of his films - "Give Us This Day" is one of the most unforgettable films ever made, which also presents a most worrisome situation for Sam Wanamaker. The music is also excellent, and the whole film gives a strong impression of authenticity - although the story probably is made up, it is made as real as any Italian neo-realistic feature. The children add to the treat by being perfectly themselves as children all the way, and in the end when all the troubles have been overcome, it's just to celebrate Christmas together with them.
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