The Safecracker is a 1958 British crime film noir directed by Ray Milland and starring Milland, Barry Jones and Victor Maddern.[SAFECRACKER, The
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 25, Iss. 288, (Jan 1, 1958): 48.]
Plot
Colley Dawson lives a quiet life at home with his mother, but he is an expert safecracker at weekends, breaking into wealthy homes and stealing valuable art. When he is eventually arrested and convicted, Colley is approached in prison by Major Adbury, who offers him a deal in exchange for helping with the war effort. Colley will be given his freedom if he uses his safecracking expertise to perform a mission behind enemy lines. The dangerous mission is to breach a difficult safe in a Nazi chateau and steal a list of German spies operating in England. Colley agrees and is trained as a commando and parachuted into Belgium for the mission.
Cast
Production
The film was originally known as
The Tale of Willie Gordon. Ray Milland left for England in June 1957.
['Wine of Youth' Follows 'Written on Wind;' New Zanuck Films Readied
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 19 June 1957: 23.]
In December 1957, producer David E. Rose announced that he and Milland would produce a second film together, but the project did not materialise.[Pioneer Idea Luring Lana: Clown Kelly in 'Everglades;' Keel Will Star With Martin
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 14 Dec 1957: B3.]
As a curiosity: German soldiers wear helmets with Afrikakorps insignia, probably remnants from a film about Rommel.
Reception
Critical
In
The New York Times,
Bosley Crowther called the film "a good, not great, suspense thriller," adding, "The film is full of those tense situations in which the hero slips into a room and opens a safe in terrifying silence. Mr. Milland is good in it. So is Barry Jones."
Box office
According to MGM records, the film earned $280,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $675,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $59,000.
External links
