Ring of Spies
Ring of Spies | |
---|---|
Directed by | Robert Tronson |
Written by | Peter Barnes Frank Launder |
Produced by | Leslie Gilliat |
Starring | Bernard Lee William Sylvester Margaret Tyzack David Kossoff Nancy Nevinson Thorley Walters |
Cinematography | Arthur Lavis |
Edited by | Thelma Connell |
Production company | |
Distributed by | BLC Films (UK)[1] Paramount Pictures (US)[2] |
Release date | 24 March 1964 |
Running time | 90 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Ring of Spies (also known as Ring of Treason)
Plot
Cast
- Henry Houghton
- William Sylvester as Gordon Lonsdale
- Margaret Tyzack as Elizabeth Gee
- Peter Kroger
- Nancy Nevinson as Helen Kroger
- Thorley Walters as Cmdr. Winters
- Philip Latham as Captain Ray
- Cyril Chamberlain as Anderson
- Justine Lord as Christina
- Patrick Barr as Captain Warner
- Derek Francis as Chief Supt. Croft
- Paul Eddington as Partygoer
- Gillian Lewis as Marjorie Shaw
- Richard Marner as Colonel Monat
- Hector Ross as Supt. Woods
- André Mikhelson as Russian Embassy official
- Garry Marsh as 1st member at Lord's
- Basil Dignam as 2nd member at Lord's
- Geoffrey Palmer as Police Officer
- Brian Nissen as Portland official
- Edwin Apps as Blake
- Fred Griffiths as news vendor
- Bryan Pringle as stakeout P.C.
- Anita West as Tilly
Production
It was shot at Shepperton Studios and on location around London including many of the sites involved in the real case. The film's sets were designed by Norman Arnold.
Release
The film was made just after the trial in 1961 but its release was delayed for legal reasons.[7]
Sidney Gilliat said the film received a limited release due to fear of prosecution.[8]
It was re-released in 1970 after the release of
Reception
Box office
The film did not perform well in its initial release.[7]
Critical reception
TV Guide gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, writing that the film "concentrates on factual evidence leading up to the crack in the case. Lending an air of authenticity, shots of the actual spies appear in the opening frames," and concluded that "despite the documentary flavour, there are a few witty touches by the hand of Tronson".[10]
David Parkinson in the Radio Times gave it 3 out of 5 stars, and felt "the docudramatic style rather undermines director Robert Tronson's attempts to build suspense," but "Frank Launder proved himself to be just as capable of turning out a nail-biting thriller, as he was of crafting a chortle-worthy comedy. For once, separated from his usual partner, Sidney Gilliat (although the latter's brother Leslie acted as producer), Launder and co-writer Peter Barnes capably retell the story of the Portland spy ring."[11]
References
- ^ a b "Ring of Spies (1964)". BFI. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Ring of Treason (1964)". TCM. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Ring of Spies". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ David Parkinson. "Ring of Spies". RadioTimes.
- ^ "Ring of Treason (1964) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ "Ring of Spies DVD". MovieMail.
- ^ a b c "Dust Off Old Spy Pic After 'Cast' Is Sprung". Variety. 10 June 1970. p. 31.
- ^ Fowler, Roy; Haines, Taffy (15 May 1990). "Interview with Sidney Gilliat" (PDF). British Entertainment History Project. pp. 19–23.
- Monthly Film Bulletin. 31 (360): 77. 1964 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Ring Of Spies". TV Guide.
- ^ "Ring of Spies". BFI. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
External links
- Ring of Spies at IMDb
- Ring of Spies at AllMovie
- Ring of Spies at ReelStreets