Ultimatum

... but tells the story of a nuclear scientist in England who goes a little nutty and writes a letter to the prime minister demanding that the country stop making bombs. If not, he'll set off a little atomic bomb he just swiped in the middle of London at noon on Sunday. Barry Jones plays the nutty guy and Andre Morrell plays the stalwart Scotland Yard superintendent who coordinates the manhunt.

Their inability to track down this crafty guy leads to a massive evacuation of residents. It's a fascinating little film about the new nuclear age set amid the rubble of blitzed London which is still obviously evident. About half-way through the film, matters take a little turn by introducing a washed-up actress who sort of picks up the fugitive in a bar. She's played by Olive Sloane and she's quite marvelous as the cheerful has-been who doesn't quite know it's over. It's an unexpected little turn and it makes the whole film, especially since there can only be one outcome to the film's premise. It won an Oscar for best writing.

This is a lovely and seldom seen Oscar-winning film. Before it came on Turner Classic Movies yesterday, I'd never heard of it--probably because it is not often seen and is a bit more low-key and literate than the usual films seen on TV. There are no famous actors in the film, no explosions and no love interest--just exceptional writing and a gripping story from start to finish.

A British nuclear scientist has been thinking over a desperate plan for some time, though none of his colleagues know about it. He is so concerned about nuclear annihilation that he's come up with what seems like an insane plan. He'll steal a nuclear device and threaten to blow up central London unless the Brits publicly renounce their nuclear program. However, the man isn't necessarily mad or evil, as he gives the government ample warning in order to give them time to evacuate and blowing up this historic area is a price he thinks is worth it to ensure that nuclear war can be averted. While his scheme is a bit naive (after all, there are other nuclear nations), it does have a certain strange appeal--and this is much of why I liked the film, as they made a crazy thing seem so reasonable.

The guy who plays the scientist is Barry Jones and he is great in the part because he's so unassuming and normal looking. During most of the film he's on the run--hiding from authorities until he can ultimately destroy the city center as well as himself. Excellent acting on his part and the rest of the cast, superb writing (which earned this small film the Oscar) and an idea that is fascinating, this is a great film. In many ways, it's highly reminiscent of another wonderful film, THE Satan BUG, which is about an insane scientist who wants to unleash a lethal bacteria upon the world. The only problem with SEVEN DAYS TO NOON is that the central idea of stealing a nuclear device is a bit preposterous and you need to keep yourself from worrying about how this isn't possible--I know it isn't--just go with it!!

Seven Days To Noon is ironically one of those films that has grown into the times rather than be dated. It's certainly a relevant film given the threat of nuclear terror today.

But back in 1950 I don't believe the technical expertise was there so that Barry Jones or anyone else could have put a device like that in a briefcase. Take a look at pictures of Fat Man and Little Boy the code names for the weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those things could not have fit in a briefcase and developments hadn't advanced that far in five years. Now sad to say it actually could be done.

Barry Jones is an atomic scientist who is suffering from fatigue and overwork and a questioning mind about what exactly he's developing. His mind snaps and he takes one of the weapons Great Britain has been developing and sends a letter to the Prime Minister. Issue a statement you'll stop the program or he's going to explode his package on Sunday at high noon.

That sets up a manhunt for Jones throughout the United Kingdom, but especially of course in London. His note does specify the seat of the government. Andre Morrell as a Scotland Yard Inspector, Hugh Cross as one of his fellow scientists who will have to disarm the device once located, and Sheila Manahan as his daughter lead the search for Jones and the package of destruction he has.

Despite the fact that it was a technological impossibility in 1950, Seven Days To Noon is still an effective thriller of a film, worthy of a Hitchcock. It's interesting that they came close to getting Jones a few times before they do catch up. Best in the film is Olive Sloane the frowzy former music hall entertainer who Jones holds as a hostage for a while. She wants to do her bit as well as she's trying to get to Aldershot to entertain the troops.

Seven Days To Noon got an Oscar for Best Screen Story. It remains one of the few films that actually grew technologically and became more relevant now than when it first came out.

Someone gets hold of an atomic bomb and decides to resort to blackmail . Boy I haven't seen a movie like this for almost a whole week . Can't story tellers think up something new ? Hey wait a minute the blackmailer is a white English guy called Professor Willoughby and SEVEN DAYS TO NOON was made in 1950 !

What can I say about this underrated British masterpiece ? It gives a whole new meaning to the word " Groundbreaking " , every time you see a movie like TRUE LIES featuring a bunch of nutters trying to nuke a city you know where they got the idea from . What makes SEVEN DAYS TO NOON stand out from the movies that followed it is the way it's written and directed . it'd be so easy for Willoughby to be a complete raving headcase but he's written in such a way you'll believe he existed in real life , he's someone who became a scientist to improve the lot of humanity and because of politicians he finds his work being used for destructive means . Do I see hints that this character influenced Nigel Kneale when he wrote his Quatermass stories ? Willoughby's well thought out arguments are interesting even though you might not agree with them .The scenario is helped even further by casting Barry Jones in the role , Jones being an actor who I'd no knowledge of hence I wasn't watching a well known face doing an acting performance I was watching a scientist with serious internal dilemmas . The reality is heightened even further by the Boulting brothers directing in the style of a documentary very similar to the way Fred Zimmerman later directed DAY OF THE JACKAL

As much as I've praised it there are one or two flaws . One is I couldn't take seriously the idea that the government would announce the truth and then evacuate London . Of course Willoughby not being a terrorist is essential to the plot , he won't detonate the bomb if alerted but again the government of the day would know this so why evacuate ? Think about it: Would he be more likely or less likely to press the button if there's ten million Londoners still in the city . I also found Prof Willoughby's ultimate fate very contrived

One other point of interest of this movie is that you're aware of how everything is different in Britain over the preceding decades . They'd be no need to stick posters all over London because television has become the medium for communication , ration books disappeared in 1952 and Britain still had a big enough army to spare four divsions to search for one man , so as a period piece alone SEVEN DAYS TO NOON makes interesting viewing

As a footnote the montage scenes of the soldiers combing London for Willoughby were reused for Hammer's cinema version of THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT . What makes this even more interesting is that the screenwriter of SEVEN DAYS TO NOON James Bernard ( Who won an Oscar for this screenplay along with Paul Dehn ) composed the music for THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT

In this day and age when atomic weapons are everybody's bow and arrows the plot of this film has never been more up to date. The setting of the film in London with the devastation left by the bombing in World War II made a great back drop for the story. I can remember when London really looked like that. Both the plot and the characterisation are believable and the acting more than adequate. But star status must go to the people of London who back in 1950 still had the camaraderie and spirit forged by six years of war. This was a time when people still looked out for each other and this come over well as the story unfolds. With our video making mobile telephones and instant access to news this film may seem tame and dated but don't let the black and white format fool you this is a good story, well told and well worth seeing. Oh, and by the way, we really did talk like that back in 1950.