When this film was made Soho had a rather seedy reputation.Gangs running protection rackets,illegal gambling and drink clubs,prostitution and strip clubs.Soho had it all.Most though not all of this has gone.Nowdays it is full of trendy restaurants and clubs.So the most interesting aspect of this otherwise uninspired and derivative thriller are the location shots.The credit titles,open over the Casino Cinema,now Prince Edward Theatre,showing "This Is Cinerama".I was taken to see this and saw it again a couple of years ago at The National Media Museum in Bradford.Very spectacular.We then follow Patterson around the streets at night.Next we see him coming out of a building in Soho Square which i believe is where the BBFC is now situated.Finally we get shots of Patterson walking through the famous Berwick Street market.The strange thing about the plot is Patterson is supposed to be a boxer,but he suddenly becomes a telephone engineer without explanation.The plot is predictable enlivened only by the oily boss splendidly portrayed by the marvelous Martin Benson,who keeps on complaining about the food he is served.
11 Reviews
Mobbed up races, boxing and a Canadian in England...with a dark Sicilian spideress.
cgvsluis19 March 2022
This was an interesting little British crime film that starred both an American actress and a Canadian actor, which I guess was common at the time.
The story is about Canadian Jim Bankley who while training at a British boxing gym owned by Tom Walker he befriends Tom's two children, Bill and Betty. Bill is a promising boxer at the ring and unbeknownst to Jim is asked by a local mobster to take a dive in the ring which he doesn't do.
Meanwhile Jim who hasn't been successful is looking for work and his fellow Canadian, Buddy. He finds Buddy who gets him a job with his employer the local mobster Rico Francesi...only it's not really Buddy or Rico that gets Jim hired, it's Rico's sister Bella. Bella takes a shine to Jim and wants him moved up the paces.
Bottom-line is Jim is a good guy (I.e. He may be ok with tapping phone lines to fix betting on horses at the track, but he is not ok with murder), so when Bill ends up dead at the hands of one of Rico's goons and Jim finds out about it he wants out. Only then does he discover how blood thirsty Bella really is.
Good action, interesting story...but the best part of this film is really the 1950's sidewalk/street scenes in England...fresh market, neon signs, liquor store, etc. GGreat, great footage and for me the best part of this film. A noir buff might enjoy this film..and those with curiosity like me.
The story is about Canadian Jim Bankley who while training at a British boxing gym owned by Tom Walker he befriends Tom's two children, Bill and Betty. Bill is a promising boxer at the ring and unbeknownst to Jim is asked by a local mobster to take a dive in the ring which he doesn't do.
Meanwhile Jim who hasn't been successful is looking for work and his fellow Canadian, Buddy. He finds Buddy who gets him a job with his employer the local mobster Rico Francesi...only it's not really Buddy or Rico that gets Jim hired, it's Rico's sister Bella. Bella takes a shine to Jim and wants him moved up the paces.
Bottom-line is Jim is a good guy (I.e. He may be ok with tapping phone lines to fix betting on horses at the track, but he is not ok with murder), so when Bill ends up dead at the hands of one of Rico's goons and Jim finds out about it he wants out. Only then does he discover how blood thirsty Bella really is.
Good action, interesting story...but the best part of this film is really the 1950's sidewalk/street scenes in England...fresh market, neon signs, liquor store, etc. GGreat, great footage and for me the best part of this film. A noir buff might enjoy this film..and those with curiosity like me.
All those strands lead straight to the middle.
mark.waltz7 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Yet within those strands, there are so many roads that this interesting and atmospheric British film noir the the Innocent fly on during that trek to the middle. The fly here is veteran TV actor Lee Patterson ("Surfside 6", "One Life to Live"), and the spider is Faith Domergue, an Ava Gardner like femme fatale who has all sorts of venom in her kisses. Domergue is the sister of a British mafia don who entraps Patterson in a dangerous game, using her female desirability to get him involved in the organization. But Patterson has a moral Center, unlike the sticky center of Domergue's web, and it is obvious who will end up being trapped in their own sinister plot, especially when Rona Anderson, the sweet girl Home Paterson really loves, ends up as a part of their scheme.
It takes much concentration but once you are in, it's difficult like the web to get out. Domergue is probably the best of the newly discovered femme fatales of the mid 1950's, honey voiced, but that honey can also be sticky and a trap. It's atmospheric and tense, with Patterson smart but appropriately innocent, like any fly drawn into a web should be. The tension builds ferociously as at the plot speeds towards its climax, and by that time I guarantee you will be hooked. That's Bernard Fox of "Bewitched" (Dr. Bombay) who ends up being one of Domergue's victims. This one is worthy of various viewings to get all the elements of the plot understood, although the conclusion left me a bit perplexed as to what really went down with certain elements.
It takes much concentration but once you are in, it's difficult like the web to get out. Domergue is probably the best of the newly discovered femme fatales of the mid 1950's, honey voiced, but that honey can also be sticky and a trap. It's atmospheric and tense, with Patterson smart but appropriately innocent, like any fly drawn into a web should be. The tension builds ferociously as at the plot speeds towards its climax, and by that time I guarantee you will be hooked. That's Bernard Fox of "Bewitched" (Dr. Bombay) who ends up being one of Domergue's victims. This one is worthy of various viewings to get all the elements of the plot understood, although the conclusion left me a bit perplexed as to what really went down with certain elements.
Not bad thriller from the other side of the Channel
searchanddestroy-128 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
A rather good surprise. British thriller are sometimes flat and uninteresting, talkative and boring. Not this one, I must admit. Vernon Sewell, as Montgommery Tully, is a good director for this kind of productions. B movies of course. It tells the story of an American, a prizefighter, who is involved with gangsters in a sort of race track racket. The film points out the techniques, about the betting. I don't know the lead actor, but Faith Domergue is the femme fatale of this movie, the "bad girl". After the boss of the gang has killed one of his partners, our hero wants to quit the gang.
With predictable results. But the ending is foreseeable too.
It looks like an American film noir, from a narrative point of view. That's the reason why I liked it so much. Even no much cockney accent in the dialogues.
A pretty good time waster.
With predictable results. But the ending is foreseeable too.
It looks like an American film noir, from a narrative point of view. That's the reason why I liked it so much. Even no much cockney accent in the dialogues.
A pretty good time waster.
London-Based Eclectic Betting/Boxing British Noir
TheFearmakers15 June 2021
A sort of British version of 711 OCEAN DRIVE has a young naïve tech expert hired to wire up a horse race betting scheme so the villains can get the inside tip straight from the bookie's mouth...
Yet it begins like a boxing noir since the lanky and passive Canadian import Lee Patterson is a wannabe prizefighter set with a girl-next-door girlfriend, daughter of a trainer and his fighter son... the latter killed by a no-good hood played by Bernard Fox before his signature mustache made him an endearing magical character-actor...
His gruff character here breaking SPIN A DARK WEB into two parts: one has our hero sent by plan-plotting criminals Martin Benson and Robert Arden to pay or catch or maybe even kill hideaway Fox while working out the aforementioned con...
And there needed more of the first as the sting is too complicated while the best scenes, traipsing in and out of actual London streets/locales, clash with phony-looking rear-projection driving scenes... thankfully there's less of the latter...
And like all Film Noirs it's a sexy femme fatale who makes our blank-slate boy turn savage-sappy while he neglects the good gal who had him first... but she isn't very attractive, or interesting... and token wildcard Faith Domergue doesn't have enough time to SPIN that DARK titular WEB with all those literal wires getting crossed and uncrossed, again and again.
Yet it begins like a boxing noir since the lanky and passive Canadian import Lee Patterson is a wannabe prizefighter set with a girl-next-door girlfriend, daughter of a trainer and his fighter son... the latter killed by a no-good hood played by Bernard Fox before his signature mustache made him an endearing magical character-actor...
His gruff character here breaking SPIN A DARK WEB into two parts: one has our hero sent by plan-plotting criminals Martin Benson and Robert Arden to pay or catch or maybe even kill hideaway Fox while working out the aforementioned con...
And there needed more of the first as the sting is too complicated while the best scenes, traipsing in and out of actual London streets/locales, clash with phony-looking rear-projection driving scenes... thankfully there's less of the latter...
And like all Film Noirs it's a sexy femme fatale who makes our blank-slate boy turn savage-sappy while he neglects the good gal who had him first... but she isn't very attractive, or interesting... and token wildcard Faith Domergue doesn't have enough time to SPIN that DARK titular WEB with all those literal wires getting crossed and uncrossed, again and again.
They Don't Understand It's A Business
boblipton18 April 2020
A boxer fails to take a dive as promised. Fight promoter Martin Benson sends Lee Patterson to warn him --nicely. The fighter knocks Patterson down, who kills him in reply. Now Patterson is on the run, and wants Benson to protect him.... and he knows all the angles.
It's a nice, dirty little movie, well directed by Vernon Sewall, with an unusual take on the sort of dirty boxing promoters who look upon the whole operation as the entertainment business, and who want things to run smoothly. I can't help but think it's all a metaphor for the movie business under the Studio System, with the managers trying to run a nicely packaged system, and the talent they so depend on always bollixing things up, leaving the bosses to fix things without anyone getting hurt. Anyone else, that is. There are some nice performances by Faith Domergue as Benson's bloodthirsty wife, and some familiar performers, like Sam Kydd amd Bernard Fox (in his screen debut), further down the cast list.
It's a nice, dirty little movie, well directed by Vernon Sewall, with an unusual take on the sort of dirty boxing promoters who look upon the whole operation as the entertainment business, and who want things to run smoothly. I can't help but think it's all a metaphor for the movie business under the Studio System, with the managers trying to run a nicely packaged system, and the talent they so depend on always bollixing things up, leaving the bosses to fix things without anyone getting hurt. Anyone else, that is. There are some nice performances by Faith Domergue as Benson's bloodthirsty wife, and some familiar performers, like Sam Kydd amd Bernard Fox (in his screen debut), further down the cast list.
Man joins gang, comes to regret it
myriamlenys11 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A foolish young man joins a gang specialized in sports gambling, aka match fixing. As a general rule the gang avoids murder, since that tends to attract attention. Every now and then, however, there is a sad accident to deplore. Whether he wants it or not, the new recruit gets caught up in the fall-out with regard to the latest accident...
"Soho incident" is notable for its vivid depiction of a very specific criminal environment. The movie also boasts a redoubtable femme fatale, in the person of the gang boss's sister. Outwardly a composed, civilized lady, she easily surpasses her brother in violence and bloody-mindedness. On the whole "Soho incident" can be watched with pleasure, although it misses the kind of misanthropic bite or existential bleakness that might have lifted it to another level. The ending is a bit weak. It feels as though everybody had grown tired of the project and wanted to wrap it up as quickly as possible.
The movie is best watched in its original black-and-white. There also exists a colorized version, which, unfortunately, delivers some eye-melting results worthy of Andy Warhol at his most daring.
"Soho incident" is notable for its vivid depiction of a very specific criminal environment. The movie also boasts a redoubtable femme fatale, in the person of the gang boss's sister. Outwardly a composed, civilized lady, she easily surpasses her brother in violence and bloody-mindedness. On the whole "Soho incident" can be watched with pleasure, although it misses the kind of misanthropic bite or existential bleakness that might have lifted it to another level. The ending is a bit weak. It feels as though everybody had grown tired of the project and wanted to wrap it up as quickly as possible.
The movie is best watched in its original black-and-white. There also exists a colorized version, which, unfortunately, delivers some eye-melting results worthy of Andy Warhol at his most daring.
There are only two reasons to watch this film
mls418225 June 2021
A dandy crime film....with ODD casting choices.
planktonrules1 May 2021
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.
Quick UK thriller.
gordonl567 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Lee Patterson is an ex Canadian Army communications engineer hanging around in London. He spends his time working out at a boxing club while looking for work. He runs into army pal, Robert Arden. He offers Patterson some possible work. Arden handles odd jobs for mob type, Martin Benson and his sister, Faith Domergue.
When Patterson is introduced to Benson by Arden, Benson says he has enough thug types already in his employ. Domergue however takes a shine to the handsome lad, and has Benson hire him. They use him to make cash drops and pick-ups. A little bit of folding money in his pockets and the "experienced" Domergue keep Patterson quite happy.
Besides running protection rackets, Benson has a highly successful book making business. This is of course because Benson does what he can to fix the odds etc. He sends one of his thugs, Bernard Fox, out to have a word with a boxing promoter. The promoter, Joss Ambler, just happens to run the club where Patterson works out. Patterson had dated the man's daughter, Rona Anderson a few times.
It seems that Benson had wanted Ambler's boy, Peter Hammond, to take a dive in his last fight. Hammond had won the bout instead. This had cost Benson a pretty penny. Ambler tells Fox that he would never tell one of his boys to throw a fight. Fox starts in on Ambler, slapping him around. Hammond enters, sees the argument, and flattens Fox. Fox bounces up and pulls a heavy blackjack out. He lays this across the back of Hammond's skull, killing him. He then exits.
Benson is not amused when he hears about this turn of events. He sends Patterson with an envelope of cash for Fox. He is to go to ground till Benson can get him out of town.
Patterson is questioned by the Police about the dead boxer. Patterson says he knew the man because he worked out there, but that is all. Patterson does not know about his bosses, Benson and Domergue's involvement.
Benson, on hearing that Patterson is a whiz with fixing phones etc from his army training, has a flash. He wants Patterson to build a device he can use to tap into the race track odds makers telephone lines. Benson can then make last minute bets at good odds and clean up. Patterson gives it a go and soon has a working device.
Benson and his boys give it a go on the next weekend and make a killing. The next day Benson hands Patterson a wad of cash and says good job. Patterson thinks life is good. Cash and a stunner like Domergue, what more could a guy want.
Needless to say the whole thing comes crashing down. Thug Fox is tired of hiding out like a rat. He decides to pay Benson a visit and force Benson to cough up some heavy cash. Then he can split the country. This does not quite happen the way Fox planned, and he is soon on the run with Benson and his mob in close pursuit.
Fox is quickly cornered in a waterfront warehouse. There Fox is tossed for a long fall with Domergue grinning ear to ear as Fox dies. Patterson, who is not adverse to making a bent dollar, wants nothing to do with murder. He beats the feet back to Domergue's flat and starts packing. Domergue though, is not the type of girl to take a break-up lightly. She pulls a gun and Patterson just makes his escape alive. Patterson has also clued into Benson and Domergue's involvement with boxer, Hammond's death.
Benson and Domergue decide it might be time for them to cool their own heels in the south of France for a while. Domergue though wants to finish off Patterson. She knows that Patterson is friends with boxing promoter Ambler's daughter, Rona Anderson. She also knows that Patterson will most likely contact Ambler about Fox killing Hammond.
Benson, Domergue and their crew gobble up Anderson and wait. Sure enough, Patterson shows. Benson and Domergue plan to head for the coast and take a small boat to France. That is, after stopping on the way, and applying several bullets to the back of Patterson and Anderson's heads.
The quick on his feet Patterson manages to crack Benson in the ribs and make a break. Domergue fires her gun and kills her brother, Benson by mistake. The Police arrive and she is hustled into the back of the squad car. At only 76 minutes, this low renter does not outstay its welcome.
Canadian born Patterson started out in British b films and television. He would make a splash on American television with a regular role in the Private Eye series, SURFSIDE SIX during the 1960's.
Faith Domergue is best remembered from the 1950's sci-fi classic, THIS ISLAND EARTH. She was a one-time protégé of Howard Hughes whose career never quite took off.
The director here is the dependable Vernon Sewell. Sewell turned out quite a few of these low end crime and noir quickies. These include, THE DARK LIGHT, THE BLACK WIDOW, GHOST SHIP, COUNTERSPY, TERROR SHIP, RADIO CAB MURDER, URGE TO KILL, UNEASY TERMS, THE MAN IN THE BACK SEAT and STRONGROOM.
When Patterson is introduced to Benson by Arden, Benson says he has enough thug types already in his employ. Domergue however takes a shine to the handsome lad, and has Benson hire him. They use him to make cash drops and pick-ups. A little bit of folding money in his pockets and the "experienced" Domergue keep Patterson quite happy.
Besides running protection rackets, Benson has a highly successful book making business. This is of course because Benson does what he can to fix the odds etc. He sends one of his thugs, Bernard Fox, out to have a word with a boxing promoter. The promoter, Joss Ambler, just happens to run the club where Patterson works out. Patterson had dated the man's daughter, Rona Anderson a few times.
It seems that Benson had wanted Ambler's boy, Peter Hammond, to take a dive in his last fight. Hammond had won the bout instead. This had cost Benson a pretty penny. Ambler tells Fox that he would never tell one of his boys to throw a fight. Fox starts in on Ambler, slapping him around. Hammond enters, sees the argument, and flattens Fox. Fox bounces up and pulls a heavy blackjack out. He lays this across the back of Hammond's skull, killing him. He then exits.
Benson is not amused when he hears about this turn of events. He sends Patterson with an envelope of cash for Fox. He is to go to ground till Benson can get him out of town.
Patterson is questioned by the Police about the dead boxer. Patterson says he knew the man because he worked out there, but that is all. Patterson does not know about his bosses, Benson and Domergue's involvement.
Benson, on hearing that Patterson is a whiz with fixing phones etc from his army training, has a flash. He wants Patterson to build a device he can use to tap into the race track odds makers telephone lines. Benson can then make last minute bets at good odds and clean up. Patterson gives it a go and soon has a working device.
Benson and his boys give it a go on the next weekend and make a killing. The next day Benson hands Patterson a wad of cash and says good job. Patterson thinks life is good. Cash and a stunner like Domergue, what more could a guy want.
Needless to say the whole thing comes crashing down. Thug Fox is tired of hiding out like a rat. He decides to pay Benson a visit and force Benson to cough up some heavy cash. Then he can split the country. This does not quite happen the way Fox planned, and he is soon on the run with Benson and his mob in close pursuit.
Fox is quickly cornered in a waterfront warehouse. There Fox is tossed for a long fall with Domergue grinning ear to ear as Fox dies. Patterson, who is not adverse to making a bent dollar, wants nothing to do with murder. He beats the feet back to Domergue's flat and starts packing. Domergue though, is not the type of girl to take a break-up lightly. She pulls a gun and Patterson just makes his escape alive. Patterson has also clued into Benson and Domergue's involvement with boxer, Hammond's death.
Benson and Domergue decide it might be time for them to cool their own heels in the south of France for a while. Domergue though wants to finish off Patterson. She knows that Patterson is friends with boxing promoter Ambler's daughter, Rona Anderson. She also knows that Patterson will most likely contact Ambler about Fox killing Hammond.
Benson, Domergue and their crew gobble up Anderson and wait. Sure enough, Patterson shows. Benson and Domergue plan to head for the coast and take a small boat to France. That is, after stopping on the way, and applying several bullets to the back of Patterson and Anderson's heads.
The quick on his feet Patterson manages to crack Benson in the ribs and make a break. Domergue fires her gun and kills her brother, Benson by mistake. The Police arrive and she is hustled into the back of the squad car. At only 76 minutes, this low renter does not outstay its welcome.
Canadian born Patterson started out in British b films and television. He would make a splash on American television with a regular role in the Private Eye series, SURFSIDE SIX during the 1960's.
Faith Domergue is best remembered from the 1950's sci-fi classic, THIS ISLAND EARTH. She was a one-time protégé of Howard Hughes whose career never quite took off.
The director here is the dependable Vernon Sewell. Sewell turned out quite a few of these low end crime and noir quickies. These include, THE DARK LIGHT, THE BLACK WIDOW, GHOST SHIP, COUNTERSPY, TERROR SHIP, RADIO CAB MURDER, URGE TO KILL, UNEASY TERMS, THE MAN IN THE BACK SEAT and STRONGROOM.
Solid Brit B noir with Domergue at her best as femme fatale
adrianovasconcelos29 April 2023
Director Vernon Sewell, about whom I am embarrassingly ignorant, does pull off a good job with this British B noir picture entitled originally SPIN A DARK WEB (SOHO INCIDENT in the US circuit).
Some weaknesses notwithstanding, the script by Ian Black is solid. I had found it difficult to believe that Rona Anderson's highly fit boxeur brother died after getting hit over the head with a small and flexible police baton, just as I could not see the need for Rico Francesi to bump off McLeod, who had been absent from the screen for some 60', when they had more pressing matters to attend to. On the positive end, we get to listen to some sharp dialogue, conveyed mainly by deceitfully evil femme fatale Domergue in contrast with upstanding Lee Patterson.
I feel that stunningly beautiful Rona Anderson was given a far smaller part than she deserved, the same going for Peter Burton in the role of Inspector Collis.
As was the habit in British B pics of the 1950s, foreign nationals get the male and female leads (Domergue a US citizen, Patterson Canadian). Cinematography is good enough for the film's purposes, but I have seen better in other Brit B pics.
Very catchy tune entitled "Love me, love me now" sung by Julie Dawn.
All told, a fun 76 minutes with some gripping action and repartee.
Some weaknesses notwithstanding, the script by Ian Black is solid. I had found it difficult to believe that Rona Anderson's highly fit boxeur brother died after getting hit over the head with a small and flexible police baton, just as I could not see the need for Rico Francesi to bump off McLeod, who had been absent from the screen for some 60', when they had more pressing matters to attend to. On the positive end, we get to listen to some sharp dialogue, conveyed mainly by deceitfully evil femme fatale Domergue in contrast with upstanding Lee Patterson.
I feel that stunningly beautiful Rona Anderson was given a far smaller part than she deserved, the same going for Peter Burton in the role of Inspector Collis.
As was the habit in British B pics of the 1950s, foreign nationals get the male and female leads (Domergue a US citizen, Patterson Canadian). Cinematography is good enough for the film's purposes, but I have seen better in other Brit B pics.
Very catchy tune entitled "Love me, love me now" sung by Julie Dawn.
All told, a fun 76 minutes with some gripping action and repartee.
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