Main Cast: Herbert Lom, John Gregson, Sean Connery, Alfred Marks, Yvonne Romain
Release Year: 1961
Country: UK
Run Time: 97 minutes
Plot
Sean Connery plays one of his early roughneck types in the British gangster picture Frightened City. The story takes place in a rundown section of London, where the citizens are held in the grip of extortionists. After several months of gang warfare, the six major "protection" rings agree to bury the hatchet and combine their efforts under the leadership of a mob boss (Herbert Lom). One of the gangsters opposes the mobster's rule, and is promptly rubbed out. Paddy Damion (Sean Connery), the dead man's best friend, swears revenge. After a bloody confrontation, Damion agrees to provide information to the police -- after plea-bargaining himself into a light sentence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Although modern viewers will be drawn to The Frightened City because of the appearance of a pre-Bond Sean Connery, they'll be surprised to find that the future superstar ends up playing second fiddle to Herbert Lom. (Some might even move Connery down to third chair, and give higher marks to Alfred Marks as well.) Not that Connery is not good or in any way disappointing; indeed, it's a treat to see Connery in a less-than-suave role at this point in his career, full of rugged good looks but rough around the edges and with a bit of menace to him. And there's still that glimmer of star quality, that charisma that would bloom the next year when he made the leap from struggling actor to cultural icon. But Lom, as the criminal mastermind, actually has the more imposing role, and he does a marvelous job of actorly manipulation, creating a powerful and captivating portrait with material that is really only standard issue stuff. Marks is also impressive as his oily second-in-command, the kind of snake that can't be trusted in the least. The film itself is only of moderate interest, a gangster thriller that's engaging but not special; but the cast makes it worth watching. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Kenneth Griffith - Wally; Olive McFarland - Sadie; David Davies - Alf Peters; Frederick Piper - Sgt. Ogle; Robert Cawdron - Hood; Tom Bowman - Tanky Thomas; Patrick Jordan - Frankie Farmer; George Pastell - Sanchetti; Patrick Holt - Supt. Carter; Bruce Seton - Asst. Commissioner; Robert Percival - Wingrove; Joan Haythorne - Miss Rush; Arnold Diamond - Moffat; Jack Stewart - Tyson; Douglas Robinson - Salty Brewer; Marianne Stone - Barmaid; Neal Arden - Headwaiter; Norrie Paramor - Pianist; J.G. Devlin - Informer; John Witty - TV Announcer; Vanda Godsell - Sophie Peters; Kenneth J. Warren - Title Thug; Martin Wyldeck - Security Officer; Yvonne Ball - Myrna; Yvonne Buckingham - Pretty Girl; Tony Hawes - Lord Buncholme; John Baker - Warder; Walter Brown - Billy Agnew; Stuart Saunders - Publican; John Stone - Hood
Credit
Maurice Carter - Art Director, Laura Nightingale - Costume Designer, John Lemont - Director, Bernard Gribble - Editor, Norrie Paramor - Composer (Music Score), Bunny Lewis - Songwriter, Desmond Dickinson - Cinematographer, John Lemont - Producer, Leigh Vance - Producer, Leigh Vance - Screenwriter
The Frightened City is a 1961 British film about extortion rackets and gang warfare in the West End of London. It stars Sean Connery, who plays a burglar called Paddy Damion. He is lured into a protection racket by oily mobster Harry Foulcher (Alfred Marks), in order to support his partner in crime (Kenneth Griffith), who is injured in a robbery. However Damion has his wits about him.
Although Connery's character has a girlfriend in the story, he seduces the beautiful Anya (Yvonne Romain), the mistress of the seedy and sinister crime boss Zhernikov (Herbert Lom). John Gregson plays Detective Inspector Sayers who is the policeman dedicated to tackling organised crime.
