Naked Fury

Talking Pictures weren't kidding when they prefaced this nihilistic little crime drama (with a script in which cuts had to be made before it was eligible for a 'U' certificate) about a gang unraveling following a heist with their warning that it contained scenes that might upset younger viewers; especially the truly apocalyptic ending.

Probably patterned after Kubrick's 'The Killing' (with Ann Lynn in the equivalent to Marie Windsor's role in the original), like 'Reservoir Dogs' the robbery itself is not shown, and like Tarantino's film the setting itself hangs heavily over the characters, the most sympathetic of whom is black and whose colour is never mentioned.

NAKED FURY is a fun time-wasting B-movie thriller from 1959. This one clocks in at around an hour in length and has an unusual setting to distinguish it from most: almost all of the action takes place in rooms at the top of a derelict building which is threatening to crumble to the ground at any moment. The story is the usual fallout between thieves after a successful robbery and features a cast of B-movie performers doing their bit.

This is hardly the kind of film to set the world on fire although it's quite passable and it does feature an impressive and elaborate effects-filled climax which I can't remember seeing the likes of elsewhere in this genre. Stodgy Reed De Rouen is a forgettable lead but a youthful Kenneth Cope does very well early on in his career as the slimiest villain of the piece. Leigh Madison does acceptable damselling in distress and Guyana-born performer Tommy Eytle appears decades before he became an EASTENDERS regular. Stock director Charles Saunders handles things while the hard-working Guido Coen produces. You could do a lot worse.

'Naked Fury' doesn't have much (enough?) to it, but it sure ends up delivering entertainment. I was mildly enjoying this 1959 flick all the way through, though it is the ending that knocks it up a notch for me. I wasn't expecting such an action-y finish, but I certainly approve!

Reed De Rouen is a good choice as the leader of this particular group, he gives the best performance here. I rate the rest of 'em too, especially Arthur Lovegrove, Alexander Field and Leigh Madison. Kenneth Cope chews the scenery a touch but is still solid enough throughout.

Oh, and the score is pretty nice too. All in all, a movie I had a suitably fun time with; even if it could've done with having more meat on the bones.

Bungled heist drama performed with tedious solemnity for a second feature. Director Saunders may have the ostensibly estimable ring of perhaps a previous Ealing luminary fallen on hard times, but in actual fact is merely a prolific veteran of the derisory programme-filler. His handling of the 'astonishing' revelation is sensationalistically lurid; appropriately enough given the viewer's strength of will to see some semblance of life injected into these sort of things by any means as the climax draws near, in order to mitigate the guilty shame of yet another wasted hour...

A reasonable time-filling film of its type. The cast were not given much of a script but some scenes were well acted. It was interesting - and that's what counts. When checking on the cast, Leigh Madison came over as an actress with promise. But what happened to her after 1960? Could anyone let me know? Thanks.