The Man in the Road – 1956 | 83 mins | Thriller | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Fast-paced, implausible, but engrossing Cold War spy thriller with a stale plot about communist agents trying to prise a secret formula from a amnesiac scientist. Guy Morgan adapted the script from Anthony Armstrong’s popular novel of the day He Was Found in the Road. A surprisingly fine cast is led by amnesiac Derek Farr and given fair support by Donald Wolfit’s bluffly enigmatic doctor in charge of his case. Irish actor Cyril Cusack is entertaining as a drunken doctor who gives Farr – and viewers – the first clue as to what’s going on. But the girls, Lisa Daniely and Hollywood’s Ella Raines, are both pretty weak.

Dr. James Paxton (Derek Farr) is driving along an isolated country lane at night when he stops to aid a man lying in the road – Paxton is then coshed over the head and wakes in the private clinic of Professor Cattrell. Paxton is suffering severe amnesia and is informed by Catterell that his name is Ivan Mason and his occupation is that of an accountant. Under the tender care of nurse Mitzi (Lisa Daniely), Mason quickly regains his strength but his memory fails to return despite encounters with his supposed ex-landlady and former employer.

Mason begins to have serious doubts over his situation when the clinic’s alcoholic Dr. Kelly (Cyril Cussack), claims Mason is the victim of a conspiracy plot to make him believe he is somebody else, and for reasons unknown everyone seems keen to encourage him to visit a theoretical mother in Moscow. Mason leaves the clinic and heads to London with a newfound American friend, Rhona Ellison (Ella Raines), and whilst in the capital visits his ex-landlady – who now admits the story she told him in hospital was a complete fabrication.

Catterall’s henchmen recapture Mason and return him to the clinic, there they inform him that he is a minor-scientist named James Paxton and unless he acquiesces to return with them to Russia they will kill Rhona. Meanwhile, police investigations are ongoing swiftly and Scotland Yard are soon at the clinic investigating into the whereabouts of Ivan Mason.