Intent to Kill (1958)

A British doctor working in a Canadian hospital, has to assist in a delicate brain operation on a South American President, who is in hiding from a gang of assassins.

Director:

Jack Cardiff

Writers:

Jimmy Sangster (screenplay), Brian Moore (based on the novel "Intent To Kill" by) (as Michael Bryan)

Stars:

Richard Todd, Betsy Drake, Herbert Lom

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Todd	...	Bob McLaurin
Betsy Drake	...	Nancy Ferguson
Herbert Lom	...	Juan Menda
Warren Stevens	...	Finch
Carlo Giustini	...	Francisco Flores (as Carlo Justini)
Paul Carpenter	...	O'Brien
Alexander Knox	...	Dr. McNeill
Lisa Gastoni	...	Carla Menda
Peter Arne	...	Kral
Katie Boyle	...	Margaret McLaurin (as Catherine Boyle)
John Crawford	...	Boyd
John McLaren	...	Anaesthetist
Kay Callard	...	Carol's Friend
Jackie Collins	...	Carol Freeman
Maggie Rennie	...	Night Nurse (as Maggie McGrath)

Storyline

As British Dr. Bob McLaurin prepares for a dangerous surgical procedure on South American leader Juan Menda in Montreal, the doctor's wife reveals her plan to blackmail McLaurin if he refuses her demand to take a job in England. Hating the provincial life in Canada, she is willing to destroy the career of her husband and his beautiful colleague Dr. Nancy Ferguson if that's what it takes to get back home. Meantime, a trio of assassins stalks the hospital with deadly plans for the high-profile patient.

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Plot Keywords:

assassin | hospital | hitman | adultery | nurse | 

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Taglines:

If the operation didn't kill him ... their bullets would !

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Intent to Kill

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zonic Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording) (uncredited)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Directorial debut of cinematographer Jack Cardiff.

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Crazy Credits

This film is made under licence from Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation - the registered Proprietor of the Trademark - CinemaScope

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Connections

References Rodan (1956)

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Soundtracks

Blues
(uncredited)
Music by Derek New

User Reviews

Cinematographer Jack Cardiff's Directorial Debut

Jack Cardiff does a good job in his directorial debut, 1958's Intent to Kill, starring Richard Todd, Herbert Lom, Betsy Drake, Warren Stevens, and Lisa Gastoni. Lom plays a South American leader who has entered a Canadian hospital under the name of Martin; however, that doesn't stop a group of assassins, headed by Warren Stevens, from getting the details of his stay and trying to assassinate him. The goal is to have the doctor in their gang inject him with an air bubble. It doesn't quite work out as they hoped.

Richard Todd plays his doctor, Dr. McLaurin, an unhappily married man who is in love (platonically for the moment) with a nurse, Nancy Ferguson (Betsy Drake).

Though this is a British film, it's set in a hospital in Canada, and is reminiscent of the film Crisis, which starred Cary Grant. The acting is good, particularly from Lom, and the camera work, no surprise, is interesting.

The best scenes in this film, in my opinion, occur at the end, when there is a confrontation on a staircase, an intense and exciting scene, very well done.

Entertaining with some nice twists and good elements.