Passport to Treason ** (1956, Rod Cameron, Lois Maxwell, Clifford Evans, John Colicos) – Classic Movie Review 13,682

Rod Cameron, Lois Maxwell and Clifford Evans star in the 1956 British second feature mystery thriller Passport to Treason, in which a private eye investigates a world peace group that is a front for a crime syndicate.

Director Robert S Baker’s 1956 second feature crime film Passport to Treason is based on the novel by Manning O’Brine, and stars Rod Cameron, Lois Maxwell, Clifford Evans, and John Colicos.

Rugged Canadian star Rod Cameron came to Britain for producers Robert S Baker- Monty Berman’s fair mystery thriller about an American private detective, Mike O’Kelly (Cameron), who tries to solve his friend and colleague’s murder.

Lois Maxwell (aka the Bond series’s original Miss Moneypenny) plays Diane Boyd, an MI5 agent who helps him pursue the trail to a crime syndicate group of fascists hiding behind the guise of being a peace organisation.

Passport to Treason is a familiar but acceptable and mildly entertaining Fifties B-movie, with a competent screenplay by Kenneth R Hales and Carry On film writer Norman Hudis from the novel by Manning O’Brine. Ballard Berkeley plays Inspector Thredgold, and Douglas Wilmer is also notable as Dr Randolph.

Cast: Rod Cameron as Mike O’Kelly, Lois Maxwell as Diane Boyd, Clifford Evans as Orlando Syms, John Colicos as Pietro, Ballard Berkeley as Inspector Thredgold, Douglas Wilmer as Dr Randolph, Andrew Faulds (in his debut) as Barrett, Marianne Stone as Miss ‘Jonesy’ Jones, Peter Illing as Giorgio Sacchi, Barbara Burke as Katrina, Anthony Baird as nursing home orderly, Hal Osmond as club barman, Trevor Reid as McCombe, Peter Swanwick as cafe proprietor, Salvin Stewart as travel agency manager, Derek Sydney as Amedeo Sacchi, Neil Wilson as Sergeant Benson, Tom Bowan as bargee.

Passport to Treason is directed by Robert S Baker, runs 80 minutes, is made by Mid Century Film Productions, is released by Eros Films (UK), is written by Kenneth R Hales and Norman Hudis, is shot in black and white by Monty Berman, is produced by Robert S Baker and Monty Berman, is scored by Stanley Black, and is designed by John Stoll.

Running time: June 1956 (UK).

Rod Cameron (born Nathan Roderick Cox; December 7, 1910 – December 21, 1983) started as a stuntman, was a body double for Buck Jones, and is best remembered for his many Westerns.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,682

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