Bond of Fear *** (1956, Dermot Walsh, Jane Barrett, John Colicos, Alan MacNaughtan, Jameson Clark, John Horsley) – Classic Movie Review 13,856

Dermot Walsh stars as a father taken hostage with his family by a desperate fugitive stowaway in their caravan, in the 1956 British crime thriller B-film Bond of Fear.

The 1956 British crime drama B-film Bond of Fear is directed by Henry Cass, is written by John Gilling and Norman Hudis, and stars Dermot Walsh, Jane Barrett, and John Colicos. It is produced by Monty Berman and Robert S Baker, also shot by Monty Berman, made by their Mid Century Film Productions, and distributed by Eros Films (UK).

Dermot Walsh stars as John Sewell, taken hostage with his wife and two young children by desperate fugitive Dewar (John Colicos), a gun-toting stowaway in their caravan as they set off for France on their summer holiday.

Bond of Fear is a neat little thriller, well set up and smartly done, with carefully judged performances, brisk, compact and economical, with plenty of nice outside filming to establish atmosphere and reality (the Dover ferry terminal and immigration is a striking climax backdrop). There is entirely enough suspense, tension and interest to sustain the whole journey in a fast moving 66 minutes.

An unusually cast Dermot Walsh is excellent in a star character role as the caring middle-class father, rather scholarly seeming and mild mannered but luckily with a history as a war hero, which will help in his several battles with the villain. John Colicos pitches his performance just right too, a very fine villain. You could easily overdo this role, but Colicos makes it human and actually quite subtle. Anthony Pavey and Marilyn Baker have a lot to do and are credible and lively as the couple’s kids Michael and Ann. Jane Barrett brings a sad gravity to her role as the mother.

Hitchcock would appreciate the tone changes between suspense, threat and comedy, and especially the comedy around the various members of the police force, all very courteous but all very ineffectual. You are on your own in this world in trouble, and somehow you’ve got to sort it out for yourself. The hero finds a way, with a scribbled note written while the villain is off guard. It is simple but effective.

Alan MacNaughtan, John Horsley, Arnold Bell and Trevor Reid are good as the coppers, and Jameson Clark is fun at the start as hero’s colleague Scotty. Avril Angers and Bill Shine are funny in brief broad comedy roles as the hikers vainly asking the hero for help. These are first-rate actors, and of course deserve more screen time, but, hey, we’ve only got 66 minutes. Make a nice little splash, and move on fast. The fights and action are really quite well done too, well enough anyway.

The cast are Dermot Walsh as John Sewell, Jane Barrett as Mary Sewell, John Colicos as Dewar, Marilyn Baker as Ann Sewell, Anthony Pavey as Michael Sewell, Alan MacNaughtan as Detective Sergeant Daley, Jameson Clark as Scotty, John Horsley as motorcycle policeman, Marianne Stone as Mrs Simon, Arnold Bell as Police Sergeant at road block, Avril Angers as hiker, Bill Shine as hiker, Peter Swanwick as travelling salesman, Hal Osmond as hospital orderly, Trevor Reid as Dover police Inspector, Alan Robinson as Dover immigration official.

It is made in the studio at Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, and on locations including the Dover Ferry Terminal, Dover, Kent, England.

Distributed by Eros Films (UK).

Release date: April 1956 (UK).

It was released in the UK on DVD in 2020 in The Renown Crime Collection Volume Six. It screens on Talking Pictures TV in the UK in the Australian release print by British Empire Films.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,856

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