Stormy Crossing

Five years after Esther Williams swam the Channel in 'Dangerous When Wet' someone had the bright idea of setting a crime drama against the backdrop of another Channel swim with an American star and authentic Dover locations.

Joy Webster looks great in a swimsuit if predictably unconvincing as a top model whose sideline is endurance swimming; and the viewer's time is also rewarded by a scene in a garage in which the mechanics are played by Arthur Lowe and John Schlesinger...!

Having worked in and around Dover for many years from the 1970's I was fascinated to watch Stormy Crossing made in 1958 to see how it looked back then. Unfortunately we only see the coast and some scenes in Folkestone ( the next town). Nevertheless, there is a real sense that you are actually there on that coastline, and it feels very authentic and not just studio bound. John Ireland is an American cross channel coach, training his younger brother, Sheldon Lawrence, a cocky one dimensional actor. Ireland on the other hand was an excellent actor so he carries some of the other cast. Maureen Connell who plays their hotel manager is particularly appealing. Derek Bond is the not so nice posh bloke who causes the main interest in this slim thriller but it's still quite watchable for the decent performances, particularly a short scene in a garage with the soon to be famous Arthur Lowe of Dad's Army fame and film director John Schlesinger.

Sheldon Lawrence is in England to swim the Channel under the coaching of his brother, John Ireland. Joy Webster is also planning to do the swim, and they develop a friendship. Any deeper feelings are forestalled when Miss Webster tells Lawrence she is to be married to someone as soon as he gets a divorce. When they set off for their swims, a fog comes up and Miss Webster drowns. Lawrence, however, thinks it's murder.

It's nicely performed under the direction of C. M. Pennington-Richards, with DP Geoffrey Faithfull offering some nicely lit compositions. Alas, I didn't find the mystery aspect of it challenging, but a good cast includes Derek Bond, Leslie Dwyer, Maureen Connell, John Horsely, John Schlesinger, and swimmer Sam Rockett as himself.

I assume this was one of those B movies made then.Usually shown in a double bill in the cinemas.I couldn't really call this a murder mystery as you see who the killer is from their first murder.As often happens in this type of thing the smaller parts are more interesting than the main leads.Leslie Dwyer is interesting here in a small role and nice to see Arthur Lowe in a small part years before Dad's Army.

The film is of no interest as a who dunnit (as a child of five could guess who diddit) but for the fact that one quick scene in a garage has the most extraordinary cast. The dialogue is between John Ireland (archetypical Hollywood beefcake); Arthur Lowe (one of Britain's greatest comic actors); and John Schlesinger (one of Britain's greatest movie directors).