| The Key Man | |
| Director: | Montgomery Tully |
| Producer: | Alec C. Snowden |
| Starring: | |
| Cinematography: | Phil Grindrod |
| Studio: | Insignia Films |
| Distributor: | Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors |
| Runtime: | 63 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
The Key Man (U.S. title: Life at Stake) is a 1957 British black and white second feature[1] directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Lee Patterson, Paula Byrne and Colin Gordon. [2] The screenplay was by Julian MacLaren-Ross adapted from his original story.[3] The film was released in the USA by United Artists.[4]
Lionel Hulme is a radio reporter who is trying to trace both the man who committed a robbery 12 years ago as well as the proceeds of the robbery.
The film was shot during a three week period in 1957 in response to an initiative by Anglo-Amalgamated to increase the number of British made B movies available.[5] MacLaren-Ross had been persuaded by producer Alec C. Snowden to write a script in late 1956 and after some doubts about the project delivered a screenplay to Snowden in January 1957.[6] [7]
The Monthly Film Bulletin described the film as "...indistinguishable from numerous others of its type; the plot and development are very slight; and the characters negative" with an overall rating of poor.[8]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Brisk but very ordinary thriller."[9]
The story was adapted as a radio play and broadcast on the BBC Home Service in August 1960.[10]