THE MAN IN THE ROAD

UK, 1956, 80 minutes, Black-and-white.
Derek Farr, Ella Raines, Donald Wolfit, Lisa Daniely, Bruce Beeby, Russell Napier, Cyril Cusack, Frederick Piper, Karel Stepanek, Olive Sloane.
Directed by Lance Comfort.

This is an entertaining Cold War story, the type of story that was popular in the 1950s and continuing on, especially with the influence of John Le Carre and his stories, into the 1960s and beyond.

Russian agents abduct a British scientist as he goes to help somebody lying on the road. He is treated physically and mentally, persuaded he has amnesia, the sinister doctor at the institution hypnotising him, especially in the middle of conversation by his use of a cigarette lighter. The plan is to give a different identity to the scientist, send him to Russia allegedly to meet his mother, and get information from him.

The cast is interesting, an opportunity to see Sir Donald Wolfit as the sinister doctor. Karel Stepanak is once again a sinister foreign presence. There is a cameo by Cyril Cusack as an alcoholic doctor at the institution. The leading lady, from America, is Ella Raines, whose last film this was.

The film is very much of its time, but well done, keeping the interest even in later decades.


1. The Cold War story? The UK and the Soviet Union? Espionage? Developments in the Cold War by the mid-1950s?

2. The gritty settings, the roads, the mansion for the institution, London, the countryside? The musical score?

3. The title, James Paxton driving, the man in the road, stopping, his being abducted? The audience not knowing anything about him? His amnesia? The long time in recovery, the interviews with the doctor, the doctor and the cigarette lighter and the hypnotism, the assistant doctors, Mitzi and her friendship, the attraction?

4. Audiences suspicious of the doctor and his staff, his manner? His insistence on the new name, Ivan Mason, the Russian background, alleging he had a Russian mother, no documents, the amplifying of his injuries, the use of Mitzi to persuade him?

5. Ivan, trying come to grips with memory, suggestions? The landlady coming and her story (and her later being accosted and admitting she had been paid to impersonate)? The Russian official, the providing of documents? The plan for him to go to Russia and to visit his mother?

6. Dr Kelly, alcoholic, the encounter is with Ivan, wanting the drinks, talking? Meeting Ivan at the pub, alerting him? The later encounter in the room, the doctors and their plans, killing him?

7. Ivan, bewildered, getting the lift from Rhona? Her not being suspicious? Listening to his story?

8. Ivan, the escape, going to Rhona, going to London, retracing steps?

9. The ambulance, the police?

10. The visit in London, Ivan and his shrewdness and eluding pursuit?

11. The capture of Rhona, the police, the groundsman and his suspicions and giving them information?

12. Going to the institution, Dr Manning and his being upset, Balinkov and his control, the plan to get Ivan ready to go to Russia and draw on his scientific knowledge? Awaiting
the arrival of the plane, and his shooting the doctor? The shooting, Rhona rescued?

13. Rhona and her work, going to Scotland Yard, the story about the passport, the Scotland Yard inspector becoming interested, recognising Paxton?

14. Paxton becoming himself again, his scientific work, and the bond with Rhona?