Rent Lost (1956)

3 to 4 stars I think - Lost review by AW

LOST Title slightly confusing; don't mix it up with the 2004 American mystery series of a downed airliner with its survivors stranded on a mysterious tropical island.

Appears to have an a.k.a title: TEARS FOR SIMON. Reasonably gripping 1950s film, this time pleasantly in colour and filmed in locations most likely on the Sussex coast (near some white cliffs - Beachy Head?) I like watching these 50s films for the pinched waists, trim women, elegant dresses (everyone dresses properly to go out), children playing in the street who don't talk back, the cars, a refreshing lack of road traffic, and tidy houses & neighbourhoods where pride reigns. There's usually at least one post-war bombsite somewhere, reminding you it's only 10 or so years after WW2..

A child is snatched along with its pram from outside a chemists shop in London whilst Nanny is inside. It's the 18 mo.old son of a slightly drippy American Embassy official (David knight) and his Viennese wife (Julia Arnall). The latter becomes frantic and won't stop in her quest to find the boy, slightly hampering the official police investigation. Apart from David Farrar who plays the craggy faced inspector charged with the case, I was not familiar with many of the other bit players except the following in the early parts of their careers, who became stalwarts in films for decades afterwards: Eleanor Summerfield as the sassy police sergeant, Joan Hickson, Margery Rhodes, Joan Sims, Mona Washbourne, Thora Hird, and Barbara Windsor. The usual black police cars traverse London with their tingly-dingly bells, and it's fun seeing some well known locations.

There are few clues to go on initially. There's standard policing and enquiries to decent hardworking London cockney speaking folk, then there's something to do with printed books and a library (afraid my attention wandered here) through which they glean the identity of the kidnapper, as no ransom has yet been demanded so fears are rife that the child's been murdered.

Bit of a Cliff-hangar-ending, what? Pun intended. Police inspector nearly comes-a-cropper, parents get baby back, then the credits roll. Quite a short film but Ok for a quiet Sunday afternoon in. Worth a gander.

Kidnapping Thriller. - Lost review by Steve

This police procedural was written by Janet Green, who went on to script classic British social justice films, like Sapphire and Victim. And it's tempting to suppose that her intention was to draw attention to the issue of psychological damage suffered by mothers who miscarry. This is more than just a MacGuffin which sets the plot in motion.

An 18 month old boy is snatched from outside a shop which triggers a police search led by David Farrar and the amateur investigations of the frantic parents (David Knight and Julia Arnall). The detective work is interesting and director Guy Green cranks up the suspense, but the cops are basically following random leads until one finally pays off.

And the law is hardly assisted by the people of London, who are mostly cranks with a grudge, or by the hysterical parents. And the film isn't helped by Arnall's shrill performance as the mother. Farrar's usual phlegmatic nonchalance is a positive. But the production is most memorable for the hot, luscious Technicolor, rare for a '50s crime drama.

The location shots around London glisten in radiant primary colours. Maybe the parents are too privileged to be sympathetic- it's nanny who loses baby- but this scores as an unusual story about every parents' worst nightmare, augmented by a standard thriller format. And there's an exciting climax at Beachy Head, which is a real cliffhanger.