Escape by Night – 1953 | 79 mins | Crime, Thriller | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Fast-paced crime second-feature atmospherically shot in post-war London. Written and directed by John Gilling, the crime drama was shot at Southall Studios. Comic Sid James makes a brave stab at portraying the dour Italian-accented crook whilst American lead Bonar Colleano verges on over-acting as his wise-cracking constant companion. As in The Yellow Balloon (1953), teen prodigy Andrew Ray once again features as the naive child unwittingly involved with a wanted criminal, only this time his real-life father also appears as his on-screen dad.

Hard-drinking Comet crime reporter Tom Buchan (Bonar Colleano) gets into hot water with his bosses at the newspaper by failing to turn up the verdict of the Rossini brother’s trial. Taunted by his fellow reporters, American journalist Buchan sets out to better his rivals by getting a face-to-face exclusive with wanted Italian racketeer Gino (Sid James). Buchan tracks Gino to the flat of his moll, Rosetta (Simone Silva), and offers to chronicle the crooks life story in exchange for flying him out of the country – Gino agrees and the two hole-up in a disused theatre.

The two are disturbed by naive schoolchild Joey (Andrew Ray), and persuade the impressionable youngster that they’re Secret Service agents who require him to run secret errands on their behalf. In actuality this involves delivering messages to Gino’s girlfriend and Buchan’s editor. Gino is being double-crossed by his brother Julio, but when the police raid both the disused theatre and later a ramshackle street house the duo are hiding out in, Gino suspects Rosetta of betraying him and sets off to the nightclub where she sings to exact revenge. Buchan follows in pursuit.