In the 1950s-60s, many American actors went to Europe to star in various films. Perhaps the studios saw it as a way to draw in more people to see the films...perhaps it was to satisfy investors that they had a big name for the leads. Regardless, hundreds of films were made with various A and B-list Americans. "Soho Incident" is unusual in that it does star one American (Faith Domergue) but also a Canadian (Lee Patterson). And, while I loved Domergue in the film (she was a great femme fatale), she and her brother in the film were lousy choices for the movie. Why? Because Martin Benson played an Italian guy and Domergue his sister. So why did he sound VERY Italian and she sounded just like an American? Despite this dumb casting choice, "Soho Incident" is a dandy crime film...one well worth seeing.
The story finds Jim (Patterson) working as a boxer but going no where. So he decides to go for fast and easy money by going to work for Mr. Francesi, a gambler with a dubious reputation. Much of this is because Francesi's sister (Domergue) is infatuated with him. Soon he makes himself very useful doing various shady things, but he isn't willing to hurt anyone...which is a problem since his boss isn't above murder. And, when Jim sees him kill a fellow crook, he's had enough and wants out. But it isn't Mr. Francesi he has to worry about but his demon-like sister....she'll stop at nothing to destroy Jim and she takes his leaving VERY personally.
You just have to see the awful things the sister does in this one....she is the ultimate femme fatale. I'll say no more....just see it and be amazed. Fine writing that avoids the usual clichés is why I particularly liked this one.
The story finds Jim (Patterson) working as a boxer but going no where. So he decides to go for fast and easy money by going to work for Mr. Francesi, a gambler with a dubious reputation. Much of this is because Francesi's sister (Domergue) is infatuated with him. Soon he makes himself very useful doing various shady things, but he isn't willing to hurt anyone...which is a problem since his boss isn't above murder. And, when Jim sees him kill a fellow crook, he's had enough and wants out. But it isn't Mr. Francesi he has to worry about but his demon-like sister....she'll stop at nothing to destroy Jim and she takes his leaving VERY personally.
You just have to see the awful things the sister does in this one....she is the ultimate femme fatale. I'll say no more....just see it and be amazed. Fine writing that avoids the usual clichés is why I particularly liked this one.