This early Children's Film Foundation offering is one of the best of their 1950s output, featuring in all likelihood the most sympathetic of their leads ever: a put-upon Polish boy living in Edinburgh, at the mercy of a cruel mother figure, who ends up on the run and living in a 'village for children' up in Perthshire. It's exciting, action-packed filmmaking with a great grasp of character and top direction from future Bond helmer Lewis Gilbert. The presence of a couple of dopey thieves in the form of the instantly familiar Sydney Tafler and Michael Balfour is the icing on the cake.
Review of Johnny on the Run
