Information Received

Information Received
Directed byRobert Lynn
Written byPaul Ryder
Berkely Mather (story)
Produced byJohn Clein, George Maynard
StarringSabine Sesselmann
William Sylvester
CinematographyNicolas Roeg
Edited byLee Doig
Music byMartin Slavin
Production
company
United Co-Productions
Distributed byJ. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
  • August 1961 (1961-08) (UK)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Information Received is a 1961 second feature ('B')[1] British crime film directed by Robert Lynn and starring Sabine Sesselmann, William Sylvester and Hermione Baddeley.[2] The screenplay was by Paul Ryder from an original story by Berkeley Mather. The cinematography was by Nicolas Roeg.

A police detective goes undercover to infiltrate a safe-breaking outfit.

Plot

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Drake, the leader of a robbery gang, brings American safe-cracker Johnny Stevens over to Britain for a job. However Stevens is quickly arrested for an unrelated crime. The police arrange for freelance adventurer Rick Hogan to impersonate Stevens in prison, hoping to lure Drake's gang out of hiding. The gang spring "Stevens" who does the safe-cracking job for them, without revealing his true identity. Hogan then alerts the police.

Cast

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Critical reception

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The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This second feature packs in far more crime clichés – including an undulating femme fatale played by Sabina Sesselman and a bit of Rififi safe-cracking – than it can handle in 77 minutes. But its confidently contrived thrills and dashing disregard for logic are disarming. William Sylvester plays the improbable hero with a nice blend of wry humour and conventional resourcefulness."[3]

TV Guide gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, writing: "the film is stylish and witty at times, but its pace just isn't as fast as it should be."[4]

References

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  1. ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ^ "Information Received". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Information Received". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 28 (324): 129. 1 January 1961 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ "Information Received". TV Guide.
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