1958 British film by Charles Crichton
Floods of Fear is a 1958 British thriller film directed by Charles Crichton and starring Howard Keel, Anne Heywood and Harry H. Corbett.[2]
Plot
During a flood, prison convict Donovan escapes while helping build a barrier for an impending flood. He gets swept away in the waters, along with his prison guard, Sharkey, and a fellow prisoner, Peebles. They wash up at a farm house of Dr Mathews, who is away helping victims of the flood.
The trio are alone until Dr Mathews' daughter Anne arrives. Conflict ensues which results in Donovan leaving with Anne and Peebles fleeing Sharkey.
Donovan and Anne fall in love. He reveals that he framed for murdering the wife of his former business partner, Jack Murphy, and is seeking revenge against Murphy.
Production
The film was made at a time when the Rank Organisation starred a lot of non-English actors in their films with a view to appealing to the international market.[citation needed]
Filming started in London on 23 April 1958.[3]
Howard Keel recalled the filming in his autobiography Only Make Believe: My Life in Show Business: "All the flood scenes were filmed on one of the large stages at Pinewood Studios. The water had to be both dirty and cold, and it was. They couldn't heat it for fear it might get rancid. That was another tough picture. Anne Heywood never once protested about the water. [Charles] Crichton, who had a great sense of humor, had directed some very funny pictures. Cyril Cusack and I were good friends. We had a little contest over Anne. He was a real cutie, as well as a hell of an actor, but I won out."[4]
Crichton said he was "not proud of the picture" but was proud of the fact "that it looks like the Mississippi in flood and it was all shot in the studio at Pinewood." He said he had to make the film "because I wanted money" and that he had to rewrite the whole film.[5]
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Repetitive and violent – at least two thirds of this film are taken up with fights and attempted rape – Floods of Fear is a blood-andguts melodrama on the starkest and toughest lines. Characters are drawn with bold, uncompromising strokes and none of the actors is required to give more than a sketch of a performance. Audiences who can become involved in the story may find it exciting; for those who are not prepared to believe in the reality of what is happening it may carry less conviction."[6]
Variety called the film: "one of Britain’s most determined Attempts to woo the U.S. market. Not only does it have Howard Keel as its male star, but the meller is unabashedly set in the U.S. The film has a novel setting, but an old idea, and corny dialog doesn’t help the characters to develop overmuch. However, there is some sound acting and the production quality is tops. It adds up to reasonable entertainment, but it is one of those annoying pix that should – and could – have been much better. It is questionable whether its marquee value is sufficiently strong to lure Yank patrons".[7]
TV Guide wrote, "Heywood is a joy to watch as she stands up to the impending aquatic doom."[8]
The Radio Times wrote, "well performed by an able cast Dallas star Howard Keel, Steptoe and Son's Harry H Corbett, Cyril Cusack and, in particular, damsel in distress Anne Heywood this is typical, and unremarkable, British 1950s B-movie fare."[9]
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