Sentenced for Life (1960 film)

Sentenced for Life is a low budget 1960 British second feature[1] crime film directed by Max Varnel and starring Basil Dignam, Jack Gwillim, Francis Matthews, and Jill Williams.[2] It was written by Mark Grantham and Eldon Howard and produced by The Danzigers.

Sentenced for Life
British theatrical poster
Directed byMax Varnel
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyS.D. Onions
Music by
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists Corporation (UK)
Release date
  • 1960 (1960)
Running time
64 mins
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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Engineer John Richards is wrongly accused of selling secrets to enemy agents, and receives a life sentence in prison. Richards suspects his ex-partner Ralph Thompson is responsible for framing him, and asks his son, Jim, a law student, to investigate.

Cast

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Critical reception

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The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A workmanlike but unsubtle pot-boiler, with little or no claim to originality, in the familiar Danziger mould."[3]

TV Guide called Sentenced for Life a "standard crime drama with a touch of espionage thrown in to spice up the incredibly bland stew."[4]

Britmovie noted "you’ll struggle to stay awake whilst Francis Matthews attempts to resolve a miscarriage of justice."[5]

References

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  1. ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ^ "Sentenced for Life". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Sentenced for Life". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 27 (312): 39. 1 January 1960 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ "Sentenced For Life". TVGuide.com.
  5. ^ "Sentenced for Life". britmovie.co.uk.
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