The Hideout [The Hide-Out] ** (1956, Dermot Walsh, Rona Anderson, Ronald Howard) – Classic Movie Review 13,672

The 1956 British second feature crime thriller film The Hideout [The Hide-Out] is a rare movie case of stolen furs with anthrax, and stars Dermot Walsh, Rona Anderson and Ronald Howard.

Director Peter Graham Scott’s 1956 second feature thriller film The Hideout [The Hide-Out] is a rare movie case of furs with anthrax, and stars Dermot Walsh, Rona Anderson and Ronald Howard.

The Hideout is a curious but interesting British 50s crime melodrama about a broker called Robert Grant (Ronald Howard) who buys stolen furs and finds that they are infected with anthrax, creating an epidemic threat.

Dermot Walsh plays insurance investigator Steve Curry, who accidentally picks up a case of bank notes, and finds himself investigating a case of bank notes. He discovers that the case belongs to Helen Grant (Rona Anderson), who runs a fur business with her brother Robert Grant (Ronald Howard). After Curry tracks the notes to Grant, Robert pursues a crook named Zacki (Arnold Diamond) to his hide-out and is promptly killed. Zacki is the source of the disease-ridden furs and the bank notes were the payment for them.

It is certainly unusual, and at least it is also short (it runs only 57 minutes), so it does not outstay its welcome, but then that is also its problem as it has bitten off more than it can chew with too much to pack in to an hour, even with fast cutting and short scenes.

Though the acting is only moderate, the 50s London Dockland shooting gives it real atmosphere and character. However, the cast is welcome, and in support, Sam Kydd has more to do than usual as Curry’s ex-con buddy, Tim Bowers, who steals the money.

Despite being made by Major Productions, it really is a minor B-movie, though there is nothing essentially wrong with that at all. Or rather, was nothing essentially wrong, as alas of course there are no B-movies any more. How were these films financed if no one paid to see them? Well, here, director Peter Graham Scott said it was made for £12,000 and sold to Rank Film Distributors for £15,000, that is as a second feature for one of their films that people did pay to see.

The film was shot at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, England.

Release date: 24 December 1956.

Cast: Dermot Walsh, Rona Anderson, Ronald Howard, Sam Kydd, Howard Lang, Edwin Richfield, Arnold Diamond, Trevor Reid, Frank Hawkins, Richard Shaw, Jessica Cairns, Tommy Clegg, Angela Krefeld, Jack Taylor.

The Hideout [The Hide-Out] is directed by Peter Graham Scott, runs 57 minutes, is made by Major Productions, is released by Rank Film Distributors, is written by Kenneth R Hayles, is shot in black and white by Brendon J Stafford, is produced by John Temple-Smith and Francis Edge, and is scored by Ray Terry.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,672

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