| The Flanagan Boy | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Reginald Le Borg |
| Screenplay by |
Guy Elmes Richard H. Landau |
| Based on | The Flanagan Boy by Max Catto |
| Produced by | Anthony Hinds |
| Starring | Barbara Payton |
| Cinematography | Walter J. Harvey |
| Edited by | James Needs |
| Music by | Ivor Slaney |
Production company | |
| Distributed by |
Lippert Pictures (USA) Exclusive Films (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Flanagan Boy (released in the United States as Bad Blonde) is a 1953 British film noir directed by Reginald Le Borg. It was made by Hammer Film Productions and stars Barbara Payton, Tony Wright, Frederick Valk and Sid James. [1] It was based on the 1949 novel of the same name by Max Catto. [2]
Shady promoter Sharkey spots young boxer Johnny Flanagan in a fairground booth fight and takes him under his wing, in an attempt to launch a comeback into prizefighting. He secures the backing of wealthy Italian Giuseppe Vecchi, but problems arise when Flanagan becomes romantically involved with Vecchi's wife Lorna. Falsely claiming to be pregnant with his child, Lorna persuades Flanagan to drown Vecchi. Flanagan's career fails and he is poisoned by Lorna, who makes it appear a suicide. Sharkey takes revenge on Lorna.
- Barbara Payton as Lorna Vecchi
- Frederick Valk as Giuseppe Vecchi
- John Slater as Charlie Sullivan
- Sid James as Sharkey
- Tony Wright as Johnny Flanagan
- Marie Burke as Mother Vecchi
- Selma Vaz Dias as Mrs. Corelli, Vecchi's sister
- Enzo Coticchia as Mr. Corelli
In a contemporary reviews, Kine Weekly said "Exuberant murder melodrama, containing prominent sex overtones and a fight racket fringe. ... Elegant and apposite settings appropriately complete the rugged mixture of fisticuffs, romance and crime. A meaty dish, it's bound to go down with the crowd." [3]; Monthly Film Bulletin wrote "A lurid little melodrama, with toughly realistic portraits of boxing world characters, a solid performance by Frederick Valk as Vecchi, and Barbara Payton as a flashy sex-menace. Made in England by an American director, the film copies American 'B' models quite competently and unpleasantly." [4]; Variety said "Lower-grade dualler toplining Barbara Payton. ... Footage is a hodge-podge of trite melodrama, unbelievable dialog and poor thesping." [5]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Lurid stuff, quite strongly made." [6]
Leslie Halliwell called the film: "Competent British imitation of an American B movie." [7]
- ^ "The Flanagan Boy". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Mayer, Geoff (2012). Historical Dictionary of Crime Films. Scarecrow Press. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-810-87900-3.
- ^ ""The Flanagan Boy"". Kine Weekly. 435 (2400): 21. 25 June 1953. ProQuest 2732607326 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "The Flanagan Boy". Monthly Film Bulletin. 20 (228): 122. 1 January 1953. ProQuest 1305819136 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "The Flanagan Boy". Variety. 190: 6. 6 May 1953. ProQuest 1032366315 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 310. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
- ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 356. ISBN 0586088946.
 | This article related to a British film of the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1953 films
- 1953 crime drama films
- Films about adultery in the United Kingdom
- British black-and-white films
- British crime drama films
- Films based on British novels
- Films directed by Reginald Le Borg
- Film noir
- Films shot in Berkshire
- Hammer Film Productions films
- Lippert Pictures films
- 1950s English-language films
- 1950s British films
- Films scored by Ivor Slaney
- 1950s British film stubs
| The Flanagan Boy | |
|---|---|
|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Reginald Le Borg |
| Screenplay by |
Guy Elmes Richard H. Landau |
| Based on | The Flanagan Boy by Max Catto |
| Produced by | Anthony Hinds |
| Starring | Barbara Payton |
| Cinematography | Walter J. Harvey |
| Edited by | James Needs |
| Music by | Ivor Slaney |
Production company | |
| Distributed by |
Lippert Pictures (USA) Exclusive Films (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Flanagan Boy (released in the United States as Bad Blonde) is a 1953 British film noir directed by Reginald Le Borg. It was made by Hammer Film Productions and stars Barbara Payton, Tony Wright, Frederick Valk and Sid James. [1] It was based on the 1949 novel of the same name by Max Catto. [2]
Shady promoter Sharkey spots young boxer Johnny Flanagan in a fairground booth fight and takes him under his wing, in an attempt to launch a comeback into prizefighting. He secures the backing of wealthy Italian Giuseppe Vecchi, but problems arise when Flanagan becomes romantically involved with Vecchi's wife Lorna. Falsely claiming to be pregnant with his child, Lorna persuades Flanagan to drown Vecchi. Flanagan's career fails and he is poisoned by Lorna, who makes it appear a suicide. Sharkey takes revenge on Lorna.
- Barbara Payton as Lorna Vecchi
- Frederick Valk as Giuseppe Vecchi
- John Slater as Charlie Sullivan
- Sid James as Sharkey
- Tony Wright as Johnny Flanagan
- Marie Burke as Mother Vecchi
- Selma Vaz Dias as Mrs. Corelli, Vecchi's sister
- Enzo Coticchia as Mr. Corelli
In a contemporary reviews, Kine Weekly said "Exuberant murder melodrama, containing prominent sex overtones and a fight racket fringe. ... Elegant and apposite settings appropriately complete the rugged mixture of fisticuffs, romance and crime. A meaty dish, it's bound to go down with the crowd." [3]; Monthly Film Bulletin wrote "A lurid little melodrama, with toughly realistic portraits of boxing world characters, a solid performance by Frederick Valk as Vecchi, and Barbara Payton as a flashy sex-menace. Made in England by an American director, the film copies American 'B' models quite competently and unpleasantly." [4]; Variety said "Lower-grade dualler toplining Barbara Payton. ... Footage is a hodge-podge of trite melodrama, unbelievable dialog and poor thesping." [5]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Lurid stuff, quite strongly made." [6]
Leslie Halliwell called the film: "Competent British imitation of an American B movie." [7]
- ^ "The Flanagan Boy". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Mayer, Geoff (2012). Historical Dictionary of Crime Films. Scarecrow Press. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-810-87900-3.
- ^ ""The Flanagan Boy"". Kine Weekly. 435 (2400): 21. 25 June 1953. ProQuest 2732607326 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "The Flanagan Boy". Monthly Film Bulletin. 20 (228): 122. 1 January 1953. ProQuest 1305819136 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "The Flanagan Boy". Variety. 190: 6. 6 May 1953. ProQuest 1032366315 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 310. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
- ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 356. ISBN 0586088946.
|
| This article related to a British film of the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1953 films
- 1953 crime drama films
- Films about adultery in the United Kingdom
- British black-and-white films
- British crime drama films
- Films based on British novels
- Films directed by Reginald Le Borg
- Film noir
- Films shot in Berkshire
- Hammer Film Productions films
- Lippert Pictures films
- 1950s English-language films
- 1950s British films
- Films scored by Ivor Slaney
- 1950s British film stubs