The Steel Key ** (1953, Terence Morgan, Joan Rice, Raymond Lovell, Dianne Foster, Esmond Knight, Colin Tapley) – Classic Movie Review 13,517

‘Excitement all the way!’ The 1953 British second feature thriller film The Steel Key stars Terence Morgan and Joan Rice.

Director Robert S Baker’s 1953 British second feature thriller film The Steel Key is written by John Gilling and Roy Chanslor, and stars Terence Morgan and Joan Rice, along with Raymond Lovell, Dianne Foster, Esmond Knight, Colin Tapley, Hector Ross, and Arthur Lovegrove.

Terence Morgan stars as Johnny O’Flynn in a routine British thriller quickie (both making and running time: it’s just under 70 minutes) about a former crook who rescues the inventor of a steel-hardening process from a sanatorium run by spies.

Terence Morgan as Johnny O’Flynn, Joan Rice as Doreen Wilson, Raymond Lovell as Inspector Forsythe, Dianne Foster as Sylvia Newman are all fine. But more interesting are little appearances by a quartet of beloved character actors: Sam Kydd as chauffeur, Esma Cannon as patient, Michael Balfour as sailor and Cyril Smith as boat owner.

It is made by Tempean Films, the production company formed in 1948 by the Robert S Baker and Monty Berman production team, who had a very good runs in films, from 1948 to 1961, but arguably reached their zenith with The Saint TV series. Tempean Films made The Trollenberg Terror (1958). Enough said!

Morgan had a good runs in films also, but arguably his career highspot was on TV too, as Sir Francis Drake in his own 1962 series.

The cast are Terence Morgan as Johnny O’Flynn, Joan Rice as Doreen Wilson, Raymond Lovell as Inspector Forsythe, Dianne Foster as Sylvia Newman, Hector Ross as Beroni, Colin Tapley as Doctor Crabtree, Esmond Knight as Professor Newman, Arthur Lovegrove as Gilchrist, Sam Kydd as chauffeur, Esma Cannon as patient in doctor’s waiting room, Michael Balfour as sailor, Tom Gill as hotel receptionist, Cyril Smith as boat owner, and Ben Williams as taxi driver.

The Steel Key is directed by Robert S Baker, runs 69 minutes, is made by Tempean Films, is released by Eros Films, is written by John Gilling and Roy Chanslor, is shot in black and white by Gerald Gibbs, is produced by Robert S Baker and Monty Berman, and is scored by Frank Cordell.

Tempean’s B-movies were distributed by Eros Films, founded by brothers Philip, Sydney and Michael Hyams. It operated from May 1947 to June 1961.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,517

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