Date with Disaster *** (1957, Tom Drake, William Hartnell, Shirley Eaton, Maurice Kaufmann, Michael Golden, Richard Shaw) – Classic Movie Review 14,019

Tom Drake stars as an honest car dealer who battles his crooked partner and employee who connive with a crook to break into a factory and steal £20,000, in the 1957 British crime film Date with Disaster.

Director Charles Saunders’s 1957 British second feature crime film Date with Disaster and is written by Brock Williams, and stars Tom Drake, William Hartnell and Shirley Eaton. 

American actor Tom Drake stars as a surprisingly honest London second-hand car dealer called Miles. Other people in the business aren’t so honest, or we wouldn’t have a thriller. His business partner Don (Maurice Kaufmann) and employee Ken (Richard Shaw) connive with professional criminal Tracey (William Hartnell) to break into a factory and steal £20,000 while Miles is away, using a car Don has supposedly sold to a fictitious buyer. Michael Golden as Police Inspector Matthews suspects both Tracey (a usual suspect who has no alibi) and Miles (who also has no alibi and simply says he was away when the raid took place).

The Brit cast do a good job, but main star Tom Drake is weak link as Miles, giving a dull, throwaway performance. William Hartnell is excellent as career thief Tracey, taunting and twinkling away to his heart’s content, and Shirley Eaton pleases as the teasing young Sue, putting herself out for every man, and Maurice Kaufmann and Richard Shaw satisfy as the sad and seedy crooks Don and Ken, the latter an exceptionally nasty piece of work. Kaufmann does shifty well. Michael Golden is amusing as the creepily dogged Police Inspector Matthews.

The film really makes the most of Eaton’s allure and sex appeal. But, otherwise, it’s all about the men. Deidre Mayne has a nothing role as Ken’s greedy, jealous girlfriend Judy, merely an unconvincing plot device.

The set-up, the robbery and the characters in the screenplay by Brock Williams are all smoothly conceived and achieved. But, as things heat up, they get over-heated, and a shade hysterical, so credibility flies out of the window, along with audience suspension of belief. The climax is indeed hectic, but it is too rushed and rather unconvincing. Rarely is there a need to complain about too much plot, pace and action, but that’s the complaint here. It needs another half hour to give it room to breathe.

A likeable, entertaining crime second feature, it is capably made by director Charles Saunders, who manages some pace and excitement, and even a little suspense and tension, and is interestingly shot by cinematographer Brendan J Stafford, who manages some visual flair on a budget.

The cast are Tom Drake as Miles, William Hartnell as Tracey, Shirley Eaton as Sue, Maurice Kaufmann as Don, Michael Golden as Inspector Matthews, Richard Shaw as Ken, Charles Brodie as Charlie, Deidre Mayne as Judy, Peter Fontaine as Sergeant Brace, Robert Robinson as young man, John Drake as Constable Wilson, Robert J Mooney as Sergeant, and Van Boolen as night watchman.

The Renown Pictures restored print is in great condition.

The title might be catchy but it makes no sense at all.

It was made by Fortress Film Productions at Southall Studios in London, with location work around Southall and Chiswick.

Running time: 61 minutes.

Release date: 18 July 1957.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 14,019

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