THE SECRET PLACE
UK, 1957, 98 minutes, Black-and-white.
Belinda Lee, Ronald Lewis, Michael Brooke, Michael Gwynn, Geoffrey Kean, David Mc Callum.
Directed by Clive Donner.
The British film industry made many films like this drama during the 1950s, sometimes supporting features, before the transition to television.
The film is a star vehicle for Belinda Lee. She made many films until her untimely death in a car accident at the age of 25. Ronald Lewis is her boyfriend, but a villain. In many ways, the film was stolen by Michael Brooke playing a young boy who is infatuated with Belinda Lee but becomes disillusioned with her after a diamond robbery and his being involved. (Brooke went on to be a QC and later a judge with a strong reputation.) In the supporting cast are Michael Gwynn as the criminal preparing the robbery, David McCallum? as Belinda Lee’s young brother, Geoffrey Kean is the father of the young boy.
The film has strong London settings, an atmosphere of realism. While there is some violence, it is significant that there is an absence of guns and shooting for the solution.
Clive Donner had worked as an editor and this is one of his early films, a career as a director for over 30 years, ranging from What’s New Pussycat, Alfred the Great to Stealing Heaven.
1. British thriller, 1950s style? The suburban London settings, poorer areas of the city? Families? Diamond robberies? Police?
2. The locations, homes, building sites, jewellery offices, police precincts? Authentic feel? The musical score?
3. The title, the robbery, the diamonds, the different hiding places?
4. Molly, the focus, her age, at home, Freddie and his infatuation, her relationship with Gerry, the kiosk, sales? Freddie and his bringing gifts? At home? Her relationship with her mother, with Mike? The reputation in the area? The knowing about the robbery, persuaded to borrow the policeman’s uniform, getting it from Freddie? Returning it? The record player, the songs, giving it as a gift to Freddie? Mike hiding the diamonds? Her going to get it back, it being smashed? Freddie disillusioned with her? Her going to warn Gerry? The encounter with Freddie on the scaffolding, deciding to save him, his saving her from falling? Disillusioned with Gerry, walking away?
5. Gerry, working with Steve and the other robbers, the model plan for the office? His relationship with Molly? Using her, getting the uniform? The difficulties with the driver, not wanting Mike? The robbery itself, the two disguised as police, the secretary, confronting the jeweller, the robbery? The escape? The questions about the diamonds being too hot, recognised? Hiding? Confronting Mike? Confronting Molly? Pursuing Freddie on the scaffolding? His arrest?
6. Freddie, his age, family, with his mother and father, his father a policeman, the little brother? His devotion to Molly, bringing her gifts? Making the belt? The gift of the record player? His being upset, the diamonds in the player, his destroying the player? Mike offering to fix it, Molly coming to get it? His confronting her? His parents concerned about his moodiness? Staying in his room? Gerry watching? Going to the hiding place, going to the railway station, buying the ticket, the seller urging the police to look for him? Gerry finding him, taking him to the building site, the jewels? His escape, the tension of climbing the scaffolding? With Molly? Returning home? The irony of his little brother finding the diamonds, the girls selling them on at a cheap price?
7. The police investigation, finding Freddie, little girls and the diamonds, asking for information?
8. Mike, his connection with Gerry and the thieves, not trusted to drive, his anxiety about the diamonds and the record player?
9. A gritty setting and a realistic story – with tension on the scaffolding but no shootouts and deaths?
