Forbidden Cargo – 1954 | 85 mins | Crime | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Effective British thriller shot in semi-documentary-style by director Harold French. The cast consists of stalwart character actors including the suave Nigel Patrick, Joyce Grenfell’s wonderfully dotty birdwatcher, upstanding Jack Warner, Elizabeth Sellars and Terence Morgan as brother-and-sister smugglers, Greta Gynt, Michael Hordern and the particularly first-rate Eric Pohlmann.

Customs agent Insp. Michael Kenyon (Nigel Patrick) is sent to Seaburyness bird sanctuary to investigate a report by aristocratic birdwatcher Lady Flavia Queensway (Joyce Grenfell) that the Royal Navy are landing stores on shore using an amphibious craft. Kenyon believes they are smugglers posing as naval seamen and prepares an ambush to capture them. All the gang are captured including the owner of the amphibious landing craft, Polish racketeer Steven Lasovic (Eric Pohlmann), who offers information in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Lasovic is released on bail, but before he can give Kenyon the information on a future drugs smuggling operation, he is found dead floating in the Thames. The only clue Lasovic leaves is a dry cleaning parcel with a letter in the pockets addressed to Rita Compton (Elizabeth Sellars). Kenyon’s superior, Maj. Alec White (Jack Warner), visits Rita and her brother Roger (Terence Morgan) at their London mews home, but both deny knowing the dead smuggler. The Compton’s are heading to Cannes on holiday, so the debonair Kenyon is sent undercover to ingratiate himself with the attractive Rita.

The Compton’s are holidaying on the yacht of London fashion designer Mme. Simonetta (Greta Gynt), but in Marseille they fly back to London, Kenyon believes to meet up with a cargo ship called The Python. Given Roger Compton’s expertise at diving, the Custom’s officers believe the drugs cache is attached the keel of the ship but their rigorous search proves fruitless. The Compton’s believed the contraband was currency but discovers they’ve been double-crossed and that they’ve been smuggling drugs. Rita is disgusted and wants no part of it, but Roger has no scruples and wishes to sell the consignment.