The Secret Man (1959 film)

The Secret Man
The Secret Man
Directed by	Ronald Kinnoch
Screenplay by	Brian Clemens (as Tony O'Grady); Ronald Kinnoch
Produced by	Ronald Kinnoch
Starring	Marshall Thompson; John Loder; Anne Aubrey
Cinematography	Geoffrey Faithfull
Edited by	Peter Mayhew
Music by	Albert Elms
Production; company	Amalgamated Productions
Release date	19 January 1959;
Running time	68 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Secret Man is a 1959 British second feature ('B')^[1] black-and-white film directed by Ronald Kinnoch and starring Marshall Thompson, John Loder and Anne Aubrey.^[2] It was written by Brian Clemens (as Tony O'Grady) and Kinnoch.

Plot

Physicist Dr. Cliff Mitchell works at a top-secret research station. He and his assistant-fiancée Jill Warren helps Major Anderson of Special Branch to track down a spy inside the station. In order to infiltrate the spy ring, Mitchell poses as an outraged idealist.

Cast

Marshall Thompson as Dr. Cliff Mitchell
John Loder as Major Anderson
Anne Aubrey as Jill Warren
Magda Miller as Ruth
John Stuart as Dr. Warren
Henry Oscar as John Manning
Murray Kash as Waldo
Michael Mellinger as Tony

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This topical 'cloak and dagger' film places its thrills efficiently against realistic backgrounds in Hertfordshire and West London, but unfortunately fails to avoid such creaking clichés as the spy chief's femme fatale blonde agent, and the 'cricket match' attitude of the detectives towards their work. On the other hand the highly capable performance of veteran John Loder recalls Jack Warner, in similar parts, at his best."^[3]

Picture Show wrote: "Exciting mystery tale, realistically set. ... The topical story has plenty of action, some romance and a twist-ending."^[4]

Picturegoer wrote: "The cast really does its stuff and the surprise ending is sprung in spectacular circumstances. This film, realistically staged, not only keeps you guessing, but also carries quite a kick for its modest size."^[5]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "old-fashioned espionage drama, tiredly written but well performed; good surprise ending."^[6]

Home media

The Secret Man was released as part of Renown Pictures Crime Collection DVD Volume 1 (2017)^[7].

References

^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
^ "The Secret Man". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
^ "The Secret Man". The Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 26, no. 300. 1 January 1959. p. 21. ProQuest 1305821436 – via ProQuest.
^ "The Secret Man". Picture Show. Vol. 72, no. 1872. 14 February 1959. p. 10. ProQuest 1879629485 – via ProQuest.
^ "The Secret Man". Picturegoer. Vol. 37. 9 January 1959. p. 10. ProQuest 1771186869 – via ProQuest.
^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 371. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
^ "The Renown Crime Collection Volume 1". Renown Pictures. Retrieved 21 January 2025.

External links

The Secret Man at IMDb

[Chibnall-1] Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.

[BFIsearch-2] "The Secret Man". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 21 January 2025.

[3] "The Secret Man". The Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 26, no. 300. 1 January 1959. p. 21. ProQuest 1305821436 – via ProQuest.

[4] "The Secret Man". Picture Show. Vol. 72, no. 1872. 14 February 1959. p. 10. ProQuest 1879629485 – via ProQuest.

[5] "The Secret Man". Picturegoer. Vol. 37. 9 January 1959. p. 10. ProQuest 1771186869 – via ProQuest.

[6] Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 371. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.

[7] "The Renown Crime Collection Volume 1". Renown Pictures. Retrieved 21 January 2025.

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