Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1955
Little Red Monkey
Buy Little Red Monkey now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Little Red Monkey', released in the United States as 'Case of the Red Monkey', is a 1955 British crime film directed by Ken Hughes and starring Richard Conte, Rona Anderson and Russell Napier.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090115021701/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/40469 BFI.org] Detectives from Scotland Yard investigate a series of murders of leading nuclear scientists, and are intrigued by strange reports received about the crimes. The film was based on a BBC Television series of the same name, written by Eric Maschwitz and produced by Bill Lyon-Shaw, which ran for six 30-minute episodes in 1953.
The film was made by Anglo-Amalgamated at Merton Park Studios. The film was an international hit, and along with 'Confession' proved a breakthrough for Anglo-Amalgamated. After its success the company began making more expensive productions, often hiring American stars for international appeal.Chibnall & McFarlane p.99
Cast
* Richard Conte - Bill Locklin
* Rona Anderson - Julia Jackson
* Russell Napier - Superintendent John Harrington
* Sylva Langova - Hilde Heller, chief spy
* Colin Gordon - Harry Martin, reporter
* Donald Bisset - Editor Harris
* John King-Kelly - Spy Henchman
* Bernard Rebel - Vinson - Spy Henchman
* Arnold Marl - Professor Leon Dushenko
* John Horsley - Detective Sergeant Gibson
* Jane Welsh - Superintendent McCollum
* Theodore Wilhelm - Secretary of the International Social Club
* Colin Tapley - Sir Clive Raglan
* Noel Johnson - Detective Sergeant Hawkins
* Jessica Kearns - Airport Hostess
* Geoffrey Denys - Doctor Mayhew
* Gianfranco Parolini - Inspector May
* Guy Deghy - Social Club Recreation Director
* Peter Godsell - Tommy McCollum
* Ed Devereaux - American Sailor
* George Margo - American Sailor
* Andr Mikhelson - East German Chief of Border Guards (uncredited)
* Tony Sympson - Cab Driver (uncredited)
Production
The film was based on a 1953 British television series starring Donald Houston and Honor Blackman.The show's theme tune was a hit.LIMELIGHT BROUGHT HIM THE LIMELIGHT ...: Frank Chacksfield's name was practically unknown when he took the record market by storm
Richards, Dick. Answers; London Vol. 125, Iss. 3237, (May 15, 1954): 7
Film rights were acquired by Todon Productions who had produced 'Duel in the Jungle' not long before. Tony Owens, who ran Todon, signed Richard Conte to play the lead; Conte had recently performed in the film 'Mask of Dust' (also known as 'Race for Life') in England. Principal photography began on 24 May 1954 at Elstree Studios. The film was a co production with Anglo Guild.Drama: Maggie McNamara Due Soon for 'Black Widow'; Conte Set for Thriller
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 30 Apr 1954: A11Todon Doing 6th Picture
Los Angeles Times 5 Feb 1956: D3.
Reception
'The Monthly Film Bulletin' said it had "meagre excitements".LITTLE RED MONKEY
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 22, Iss. 252, (Jan 1, 1955): 40.
References
Bibliography
* Chibnall, Steve & McFarlane, Brian. 'The British 'B' Film'. Palgrave MacMillan, 2009.
Buy Little Red Monkey now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1955