I expected rather more from this movie when I saw the cast. What I got was a poor attempt at a glamorous international pursuit thriller with a far fetched storyline and unbelievable characters.
Nigel Patrick's Sam Carter, a mild-mannered book-keeper, lifts a valuable diamond and disappears. A variety of goodies, baddies and don't-knows follow him from New York (studio office, stock footage and London street with American cars) to Lisbon to Madrid to Paris and finally to London. All have their reasons for wanting to relieve Carter of the stone. Milo March (Jack Palance) is a private detective on the case. Trudie Hall (Anita Ekberg) claims it belongs to her family and Lomer (Bonar Colleano) is simply a crook. The action follows March but, he is favoured too much by coincidence. It seems he only has to turn up somewhere and ask a question of the nearest local in order to be given his next lead. Ekberg's only purpose is to be ogled. And there are at least three unsubtle references to her having "concealed weapons" (ba-boom tish!).
On the plus side film buffs will have fun spotting the usual suspects who habitually grace 1950s British films. Eric Pohlman (ray!), Sid James, Alfred Burke and Donald Pleasance all have roles, and Anthony Newley plays his usual annoying, chirpy, streetwise foreigner. In this instance, Ernesto the cabby. Some nice location shots and pics of vintage airliners, and a brief shot of The Golden Arrow train. Curiosity value only.
Review of The Man Inside
