The Criminal (1960 film)
The Criminal is a 1960 British neo-noir crime film produced by Nat Cohen and directed by Joseph Losey, starring Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, Grégoire Aslan, and Margit Saad. Alun Owen wrote the screenplay, from a story by an uncredited Jimmy Sangster.
| The Criminal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Joseph Losey |
| Produced by | Nat Cohen |
| Screenplay by | Alun Owen |
| Starring | Stanley Baker Sam Wanamaker Grégoire Aslan Margit Saad |
| Music by | John Dankworth |
| Cinematography | Robert Krasker |
| Edited by | Reginald Mills |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Anglo-Amalgamated (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Baker plays an ex-con who takes part in the robbery of a racetrack and is caught and sent back to prison. The film depicts a harsh and violent portrayal of prison life that led to the film being banned in several countries, including Finland.
It was released in the United States as The Concrete Jungle.
Cast
- Stanley Baker as Johnny Bannion
- Sam Wanamaker as Mike Carter
- Grégoire Aslan as Frank Saffrion
- Margit Saad as Suzanne
- Jill Bennett as Maggie
- Rupert Davies as Edwards
- Laurence Naismith as Mr Town
- John Van Eyssen as Formby
- Noel Willman as Prison Governor
- Derek Francis as Priest
- Redmond Phillips as Prison Doctor
- Kenneth J. Warren as Clobber
- Patrick Magee as Barrows
- Robert Adams as Judas
- Kenneth Cope as Kelly
- Patrick Wymark as Sol
- Jack Rodney as Scout
- John Molloy as Snipe
- Brian Phelan as Pauly Larkin
- Paul Stassino as Alfredo Fanucci
- Jerold Wells as Warder Brown
- Tom Bell as Flynn
- Neil McCarthy as O'Hara
- Keith Smith as Hanson
- Nigel Green as Ted
- Tom Gerard as Quantock
- Larry Taylor as Charles
- Murray Melvin as Antlers
- Edward Judd as Young warder
- Charles Lamb as Mr. Able
- Bob Grant as prisoner (uncredited)
- Danny Sewell (uncredited)
Production
Joseph Losey said he was handed a ready-made script. "It was a concoction of all the prison films Hollywood ever made", he said. "Both Stanley Baker and I refused to work until they let us write our own script. Which is what we did."[1] He says the producers wanted a sequence where the criminals rob a race track but he felt that had been done in The Killing (1956) so he filmed it taking place off screen.
Reception
According to Losey the film was a commercial success. He said the film was banned in Ireland because so many of the prisoners were Irish Catholics.[1]
The film was reportedly very successful in Paris.[2]
References
- "FILM CRAFT: Joseph Losey talks to Peter Lennon". The Guardian. London. 9 July 1962. p. 5.
- EUGENE ARCHER (15 March 1964). "EXPATRIATE RETRACES HIS STEPS: Joseph Losey Changes Direction With His British 'Servant'". New York Times. p. X9.