Never Let Go

19601960
Not RatedNot Rated
1h 30m

A cosmetic salesman sets out to prove to himself and his wife that he is not a failure.A cosmetic salesman sets out to prove to himself and his wife that he is not a failure.A cosmetic salesman sets out to prove to himself and his wife that he is not a failure.

7.1/10

1.4K

Director
- John Guillermin
Writers
- John Guillermin(story)
- Peter De Sarigny(story)
- Alun Falconer(screenplay)
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Peter Sellers, Elizabeth Sellars, and Richard Todd in Never Let Go (1960)

Peter Sellers and Richard Todd in Never Let Go (1960)

David Lodge and Richard Todd in Never Let Go (1960)

Richard Todd and Noel Willman in Never Let Go (1960)

Peter Sellers and Carol White in Never Let Go (1960)

Peter Sellers and Adam Faith in Never Let Go (1960)

In London, crooked garage owner Lionel Meadows makes extra cash by selling stolen cars. He uses the services of a crew of chop-shop mechanics and relies on teenage hoodlums to steal the cars. Cosmetics salesman John Cummings is struggling to meet his monthly sales targets in order to keep his job. He recently purchased a 1959 Ford Anglia to help him deliver cosmetics samples to department stores. His car is essential to his job. However, young petty thief Tommy Towers steals John's car while it's parked on the street where John works. He delivers the stolen car to Meadows' chop-shop. John reports the theft to the police but the police is slow acting. With pressures at home and at work, John is desperate to recover his stolen vehicle. The police inspector keeps telling him to be patient as most stolen cars are recovered eventually. However, John becomes more and more desperate and impatient to re-claim his car. Against the advice of the police, he sets-out to investigate the matter himself. This will eventually bring him on a direct collision course with Lionel Meadows and his gang of chop-shop hoodlums. —nufs68

vigilante gangster stolen car pub salesman 191 more

Taglines
- Peter Sellers in a new and exciting role!
Genres
Certificate
- Not Rated
Parents guide

Trivia
When this film appeared in 1960, Peter Sellers had become an internationally-acclaimed star of comedies, but had never been seen in a serious drama like this violent thriller. People were so unused to see him playing someone unpleasant and aggressive that the film was a great critical and financial flop. Sellers himself, perhaps defensively, dismissed his performance sarcastically as "my attempt to be Rod Steiger". However, over the years, the film gained a small, but vociferous cult following and Sellers's work in it has been much praised.

Goofs
About five minutes into the film, Cummings (Richard Todd) is looking for his stolen car. One of the shots is "flipped" - the sign for "Berger's Cosmetics" reads backwards.

Quotes
Lionel Meadows: I said I told you never to lift anything within five miles of around here! Don't you ever learn?

Connections
Featured in The Unknown Peter Sellers (2000)

Soundtracks
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged and conducted by John Barry
Lyrics by John Maitland
Sung by Adam Faith
Heard over the opening and closing titles

Top review

8/10

Wow...this was a different performance for Peter Sellers.

While the star of this film technically is Richard Todd, Peter Sellers' supporting performance dominates the film and it's no surprise that the DVD features Sellers on the cover, not Todd. It's one of the better performances of his career--and, interestingly, it's not at all comedic but a VERY gritty and serious role.

The film begins with a working man (Todd) leaving work--only to discover that his car's been stolen. He goes to the police but after a couple days there doesn't appear to be any chance he'll get it back--and it's not insured. Todd is a very mild-mannered man and not the sort you'd expect to do anything about the crime, but his car is needed for his job and he won't let it rest. So, he starts trying to find leads on his own--and repeatedly he nearly gets himself killed. Yet, for once this mild-mannered man is NOT going to just back down--he will follow this as far as he can and the consequences be damned. Through the course of Todd's investigations, the trail leads to a truly horrible man (Sellers). On the surface, Sellers seems sophisticated and mild-mannered himself. However, he is a very violent bully--and this comes out with the least provocation. What's to happen next? Tune in to this excellent film to see for yourself--just be forewarned...it's amazingly brutal for 1960--so brutal the Brits gave it what is equivalent to a restricted rating!

As I said, Sellers is at his best here. Wearing bulky clothes (and perhaps lifts to make him look taller), he looks beefier and plays a great heavy. His violent and sadistic routine is mesmerizing--and it was hard to believe this is the same guy who made a career out of making people laugh. Here, he's malevolent and cruel--and very effective. Now all this does NOT mean Todd isn't quite good as well--he is. But even in turning in a dandy performance himself, he is overshadowed by the malevolent Sellers. The sum effect of both of them is quite compelling--making a simple and inexpensive film much better than you'd ever expect. If you like to see excellent acting and characters, then see this one.

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