3 Steps to the Gallows

Scott Brady is a merchant mariner who gets off ship in England to visit his brother. He finds his brother in prison, doomed to hang in three days for murder, unless Brady can make his way through a murky underworld conspiracy that involves smuggled diamonds.

I find it interesting, the number of British programmers that begin with a sailor of some sort making port, hoping to see a relative, and discovering he is in jail or dead. It's a nice technique for plopping the protagonist down in a plot in a new situation, forcing him to deal not only with the plot, but the part of society he's caught up in. Usually it's a guy; Howard Hawks liked to use the situation with a woman coming into a tight-knit community of men -- Jean Arthur in ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS; Angie Dickinson in RIO BRAVO are two of those movies. However, in those movies, it's the exploration of that society that is the point of the movie; sure, there's a plot, but what it turns into is a story about bonding.

Brady is good in the role, and the story is well told, but while the mystery aspect is good, it's a decent programmer, and little more... which is fine.

In the 1950s and 60s, many American actors went to Europe to star in their films. Most of these were second and third-tier actors...and in the case of "3 Steps to the Gallows", third-tier American actor Scott Brady stars in this British mystery/suspense film.

When the story begins, Gregor (Brady) arrives in London to see his brother. Surprisingly, however, he learns that while he was off at sea, his brother was convicted of murder is will be executed within a few days! Not surprisingly, Gregor investigates on his own to see what he can uncover...and he discovers a vast conspiracy. What's next? See the film.

I had to chuckle at this film a bit. After all, do the Brits see Americans as being like Brady?! In the film, is character investigates mostly by beating up people! And, he's apparently very good at it!! So, it's not like this is the most complex or nuanced character! Overall, mildly entertaining if not a bit mindless.

I saw this under the title of "3 Steps to the Gallows". A better title would have been "3 Days to the Gallows," since when American seaman Scott Brady arrives in London and goes in search of his brother he finds the latter is due to be executed in three days' time for murder: he's innocent, of course. The film's scriptwriter plays the brother, and he's definitely a better writer than actor, seeming remarkably calm for someone facing imminent death for something he didn't do. John Gilling made several low-budget crime films in the 50s, and seeing this one made me want to see the others.The plot has some good twists, and there's a lot of interesting location filming. It was common practice to import minor American stars for such films, and Brady made a spirited hero, while Mary Castle, who I'd never seen before, bears a considerable resemblance to Rita Hayworth. She even sings in a nightclub, a la Gilda. The weaknesses are the way Brady wins all his fist fights (even against a professional boxer!) and the climax, in which the police turn up like the 7th Cavalry even though they had no way of knowing where the protagonists were. Very odd.

Excellent British Film Noir "3 Steps to the Gallows" follows American Sailor Scott Brady trying to visit and then just locate his brother while docked in London. Mary Castle as the lounge singer at the Gay Mask club gives this film an extraordinary aura. Her abbreviated performance of "There's No Way Out" paves the way for Brady to commence making contact with all of the characters involved in the plot. Pay attention - no one is above suspicion. Brady is more than a bit of a bull in a china shop but the rest of the cast is more subtly believable. This moves along at a good pace with no dead time. Worth seeking out.

Gregor Stevens (Scott Brady) has 4 days shore leave. He goes to visit his brother but cannot find him. A meeting with Yvonne (Mary Castle), a boxing fan (Michael Balfour) and a visit to the "Gay Mask" nightclub give him an avenue to pursue in the circumstances that are unfolding before him. Gregor must solve the mystery before he goes back to his ship.........and, more importantly, before a hanging takes place.....

It's a fast-paced film that gets going from the beginning. It's well acted by all and has many twists to the plot. It is just on the right side of complicated.

Its a good film to keep onto and watch again.