A reformed crook called Don Mason (played by William Lucas) is blackmailed by a gang of ruthless criminals for a set of forgery plates, which they believe to be in his possession. They kidnap his young daughter and threaten to kill her unless he gives them what they want. His situation worsens when he becomes the police's chief suspect for the murder of one of his former accomplices, a fashion photographer called Chas Warren (played by Brian Nissen). Meanwhile, events dramatically change things between Mason and his estranged wife Kay (played by Zena Marshall). Could their plight see them get back together again? And who is the mastermind behind the blackmail and murder plot?
A watchable low budget British crime drama made when the heyday of second features had long gone. Director Francis Searle was a prolific maker of programme filler material such as this. He keeps the plot moving along briskly, but fails to generate much in the way of suspense or dramatic tension. The kidnapping and eventual rescue of Mason's daughter, for example, lacks urgency due to the routine way in which it is shot. Nevertheless, it has some pleasures to make it worth seeing such as the realistic settings like the haulage and dockyards where Mason works and where the climax takes place. They are much enhanced by the atmospheric b/w camerawork and some of the performances are good too. William Lucas, a fine actor with a great dramatic range, is particularly noteworthy as the tough ex-con who finds himself caught between the law and the underworld while trying to save his family. Zena Marshall is also noteworthy as Kay, his estranged wife, and the way in which their ordeal affects their relationship provides the emotional centre to the story.
A watchable low budget British crime drama made when the heyday of second features had long gone. Director Francis Searle was a prolific maker of programme filler material such as this. He keeps the plot moving along briskly, but fails to generate much in the way of suspense or dramatic tension. The kidnapping and eventual rescue of Mason's daughter, for example, lacks urgency due to the routine way in which it is shot. Nevertheless, it has some pleasures to make it worth seeing such as the realistic settings like the haulage and dockyards where Mason works and where the climax takes place. They are much enhanced by the atmospheric b/w camerawork and some of the performances are good too. William Lucas, a fine actor with a great dramatic range, is particularly noteworthy as the tough ex-con who finds himself caught between the law and the underworld while trying to save his family. Zena Marshall is also noteworthy as Kay, his estranged wife, and the way in which their ordeal affects their relationship provides the emotional centre to the story.
