The Criminals (1959 film)

"The Criminals (1959 film)"
Armchair Theatre episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 16
Directed byJames Ferman
Written byMalcolm Hulke
Eric Paice
Original air dateDecember 28, 1958 (1958-12-28)

The Criminals is a 1958 British television play by Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice.[1]

The script was later filmed for Australian television in 1962.

Premise

A construction company's New Year's Eve party is taken over by a criinal who uses men to rob a bank.

Cast

  • Stanley Baker
  • Raymond Huntley
  • Ian Cuthfebertson
  • Frederick Hartman
  • Dermof Kelly
  • Peter Swabwick
  • Fred Kitchen
  • Angus Lennie
  • Ronald Fraser

Reception

Variety wrote "Plot, although riddled with innumerable twists had a familiar tang about it which, because of some heavy.handed production, became even more obvious and predictable. Nevertheless. “The Criminals” made for sound TV entertainment."[2] The Daily Telegraph called it "a first rate production."[3] The Birmingham Post called it "contrived" although felt Baker played "with great force."[4]

References

  1. ^ "Weekend play bill". Liverpool Echo. 27 December 1958. p. 2.
  2. ^ "The Criminals". Variety. 24 February 1959. p. 46.
  3. ^ "Television". The Daily Telegraph. 29 December 1958. p. 8.
  4. ^ "Television". The Birmingham Post. 29 December 1958. p. 24.