Danger Within (1958)

[Merton Park]

One of my favourites of the British 1950's POW films starring many of the usual suspects. Richard Todd, Richard Attenborough,Michael Wilding,Bernard Lee and a good comic performance by Ronnie Stevens. Screenplay by Bryan Forbes.

Wednesday Ch 4 at 1:05pm

Worth setting the video.

[Iminaright2an8]

As a POW film fan I thought i'd seen them all..but this one seems to have passed me by..I look forward to seeing it.

[dpgmel]

An excellent film probably my favourite POW drama. A lovely performance form Michael Wilding too.

[dremble wedge]

A rare chance to see Dennis Price's Hamlet too

[julian_craster]

Dennis organised the camp entertainment, I presume .....

[dremble wedge]

Dennis organised the camp entertainment, I presume .....

And is

  Spoiler:

mightily peeved when the escape takes place during the middle of his play

[CaptainWaggett]

An excellent film probably my favourite POW drama. A lovely performance form Michael Wilding too.

More favourite than the Captive Heart? This one is the best from the 50s though.

[dpgmel]

Well this one does'nt have Sir Michael true but as an ensemble piece I don't think you can beat it.

[Windthrop]

Well this one does'nt have Sir Michael true but as an ensemble piece I don't think you can beat it.

Assume you are talking about Mr Caine. He is briefly in it.

Quite a lively movie IIRC

Capture.JPG

[CaptainWaggett]

Assume you are talking about Mr Caine. He is briefly in it.

Quite a lively movie IIRC

Attachment 6608

I didn't know that I believe dpgmel was talking about Michael Redgrave who he probably thinks was the real star of The Captive Heart

[dpgmel]

I didn't know that I believe dpgmel was talking about Michael Redgrave who he probably thinks was the real star of The Captive Heart

I was indeed and he wasn't being upstaged by a dummy in this one......* resists temptation to make a very cheap gag*

[Windthrop]

I was indeed and he wasn't being upstaged by a dummy in this one......* resists temptation to make a very cheap gag*

Had guessed Was putting in a sly joke about Caine getting a lead in a POW film much later on (and much less fun the DW despite the direction of John Huston )

[dpgmel]

Had guessed Was putting in a sly joke about Caine getting a lead in a POW film much later on (and much less fun the DW despite the direction of John Huston )

Yes not a career highlight for either star or director.

[Shelley Court]

Lovely film - enjoyed it when I saw it in 1958 and enjoyed it the other day. A pity then that Channel 4 showed the same old print in the wrong ratio. I know its only 1.66:1. The BBC's showing of Devils of Darkness last week was in an anamorphic 1.66:1 ratio and looked beautiful.

[Ray]

I LOVE this film, Richard Todd was excellent, and it is the only time that I have ever enjoyed a Michael Wilding performance.

[WarFilmBuff]

I talked to Richard Todd about this film a few years ago (we were having a beer at Pegasus Bridge café) and he was surprised I knew the film. This would have been 15 years ago and I would have been mid-twenties at the time. He wore one of his original Parachute Regt berets for the film (he was in 7th Bn), although not the one he wore in combat which was a little too tatty. It was however his "dress" beret that he wore with his service dress on leave etc. I believe he said the fly swat he carries in the film was one of his own character ideas, copied from an officer he served with who had been in pre-war India and carried one instead of a swagger stick. He also said that one of the reasons he enjoyed the fim was that it was pure fiction. Having become famous for The Dambusters and playing a real person Danger Within was a lot of fun because all the actors could create their own characters and not be burdened by having to research a real war hero.

I wish I had asked if the "traitor" was determined before filming commenced. On some films they keep the actors unaware of who the baddie is until as late as possible in the filming.

Anyway - a great film

[MrDrakesDuck]

It's on Film4 today (Mon 29th April) at 1650.

Other war films today:-

The Yangtse Incident 1100 (Film4)
The Silent Enemy 1120 (More4)
The Colditz Story 1455 (film 4)

Also:-

Tuesday = Ice Cold in Alex 1650 (Film4)
Friday = Sea of Sand 1100 (Film4)