Mark of the Phoenix | |
---|---|
Directed by | Maclean Rogers |
Written by | Norman Hudis |
Based on | novel The Phoenix Sings by Desmond Cory[1] |
Produced by | W.G. Chalmers |
Starring | Julia Arnall Sheldon Lawrence Anton Diffring |
Cinematography | Geoffrey Faithfull |
Edited by | Harry Booth |
Music by | Wilfred Burns (uncredited) |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Butcher's Film Service (UK) |
Release date |
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Running time | 78 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Mark of the Phoenix is a 1958 British 'B' drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Julia Arnall, Sheldon Lawrence and Anton Diffring.[2] An American jewel thief comes into possession of a newly developed metal.
A newly developed and valuable metal is stolen and formed into a cigarette case for transportation to East Germany, but an American jewel thief comes into possession of it and finds himself a target.
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This spy story has all the usual trimmings – tough, handsome American jewel thief, portly art-collector gang leader, shot scientist, secret formula and brutal foreign agents – but almost makes up for their familiarity by lively pacing. This turns out to be the film’s sole virtue, however, since direction, dialogue and performances are on a distressingly amateurish level.”[3]
In British Sound Films David Quinlan wrote: ''Feverishly complicated thriller, not too well acted.''[4]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "This dismal low-budget thriller has a corkscrew plot involving rare metals, jewel thieves, international blackmail, the Cold War and much else. [...] The mediocre cast is typical of British B-movies of the period, with the sole exception of Anton Diffring."[5]