Man in the Shadow (1957 British film)

Man in the Shadow
British theatrical release poster
Directed by	Montgomery Tully
Written by	Maisie Sharman
Produced by	Alec C. Snowden Richard Gordon
Starring	Zachary Scott Faith Domergue
Cinematography	Phil Grindrod
Edited by	Geoffrey Muller
Music by	Trevor Duncan
Production company	Merton Park Studios
Distributed by	Anglo-Amalgamated
Release date	September 1957 (1957-09)
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Man in the Shadow (U.S. title Violent Stranger) is a 1957 British second feature ('B')^[1] crime film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Zachary Scott and Faith Domergue.^[2][3][4] It was written by Maisie Sharman.

The film was retitled for the US market because of the release of the American film of the same name in the same year.^[5]

Plot

Cast

• Zachary Scott as John Lewis Sullivan
• Faith Domergue as Barbara Peters
• Peter Illing as Carlo Raffone
• Faith Brook as Joan Lennox
• John Welsh as Inspector Hunt
• Julian Strange as Detective Sergeant
• Gordon Jackson as Jimmy Norris
• Kay Callard as Pamela Norris
• Harold Siddons as Colin Wells
• John Horsley as Alan Peters
• Fabia Drake as Sister Veronica

Critical reception

Kine Weekly wrote: "A workmanlike job, effectively varnished, it will intrigue and thrill the ninepennies. ... The picture feels its way a trifle gingerly at first, but once its plot assumes definite shape it steadily grips."^[6]

Picturegoer wrote: "The film's not badly acted, but it is the choice of Italian exteriors, rather than the cast, that makes the hectic tale at all palatable."^[7]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Disappointing vehicle for visiting stars."^[8]

References

1. Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
2. Man in the Shadow at the BFI Database
3. "Man in the Shadow". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
4. Vagg, Stephen (12 January 2025). "Forgotten British Moguls: Nat Cohen – Part One (1905-56)". Filmink. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
5. Tom Weaver, The Horror Hits of Richard Gordon, Bear Manor Media 2011 p 18
6. "Man in the Shadow". Kine Weekly. 485 (615): 18. 26 September 1957. ProQuest 2826280444 – via ProQuest.
7. "Man in the Shadow". Picturegoer. 34: 13. 1 December 1957. ProQuest 1771170889.
8. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 343. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.

External links

• Man in the Shadow at IMDb