You Can't Escape

You Can't Escape
You Can't Escape
	U.S. poster
Directed by	Wilfred Eades
Written by	Robert Hall; Doreen Montgomery
Based on	She Died Young by Alan Kennington
Produced by	Robert Hall
Starring	Noelle Middleton; Guy Rolfe; Robert Urquhart; Peter Reynolds
Cinematography	Norman Warwick
Edited by	E.B. Jarvis
Music by	Charles Williams
Production; company	Forth Films
Distributed by	Associated British-Pathé
Release date	20 February 1956;
Running time	77 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

You Can't Escape is a 1956 British second feature ('B')^[2] drama film directed by Wilfred Eades and starring Noelle Middleton, Guy Rolfe and Robert Urquhart.^[3]^[4] It was written by Robert Hall and Doreen Montgomery based on the 1938 novel She Died Young by Alan Kennington.^[5]

Plot

Rising novelist, Peter Darwin, has a row with former mistress Claire, and accidentally kills her. He somehow manages to persuades his reluctant fiancé Kay to help him bury Claire's body in a wood. But when the body is found, and a blackmailing journalist appears on the scene, Darwin resorts to desperate measures to cover his tracks, including framing an innocent person.

Cast

Noelle Middleton as Kay March
Guy Rolfe as David Anstruther
Robert Urquhart as Peter Darwin
Peter Reynolds as Rodney Nixon
Elizabeth Kentish as Claire Segar
Barbara Cavan as Aunt Sue
Martin Boddey as Inspector Crane
Thorley Walters as Chadwick
Jacqueline Mackenzie as Mrs. Baggerley
Thorley Walters as Chadwick
Wensley Pithey as Constable Wagstaff
Edward Forsyth as Colonel Tripp
Barbara Leake as Mrs. Trussler
Sam Kydd as Ted, Poacher
Hal Osmond as Poacher's Friend
Victor Platt as Darts Player
Arthur Gross as Bystander
Noel Coleman as Official
Robert Cawdron as Pugilist
Maureen Connell as 1st Peasant Blouse
Sally Bazely as 2nd Peasant Blouse
Alec Finter as Foreman of The Jury

Release

It was released as an 'A' certificate.^[6] Though filmed in 1.33:1, it was also framed in 1.66:1 for any theatre that had the equipment to exhibit widescreen films.^{[citation needed]}

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A stereotyped murder melodrama, which ambles unexcitingly towards a conclusion that the spectator has anticipated long before the film reaches that far. Playing and direction are somewhat lifeless."^[7]

TV Guide concluded there was "Nothing much to get excited about."^[8]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "poor", writing: "Very lacklustre thriller."^[9]

My Reviewer found the film "full of action from the off and whilst it all feels a little dated now, it has a certain old school charm – like the very best of ITC shows from back in the day."^[10]

Blueprint Review wrote, "Despite its rather stagey tone You Can’t Escape remains a fun example of British B-movies from that era."^[11]

References

^ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 – via Google Books.
^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
^ "You Can't Escape". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
^ "You Can't Escape (1956)". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
^ Vagg, Stephen (11 November 2024). "Peter Reynolds: Forgotten Cad". Filmink. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
^ "You Can't Escape". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
^ "You Can't Escape". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 23 (264): 35. 1 January 1956. ProQuest 1305819563.
^ "You Can't Escape". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 403. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
^ "myReviewer.com - Review for You Can't Escape".
^ Richards, Justin (24 July 2015). "You Can't Escape". Blueprint Review. Retrieved 15 March 2025.

External links

You Can't Escape at IMDb

[1] Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 – via Google Books.

[Chibnall-2] Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.

[BFIsearch-3] "You Can't Escape". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 2 July 2024.

[4] "You Can't Escape (1956)". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.

[cad-5] Vagg, Stephen (11 November 2024). "Peter Reynolds: Forgotten Cad". Filmink. Retrieved 11 November 2024.

[6] "You Can't Escape". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 15 March 2025.

[7] "You Can't Escape". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 23 (264): 35. 1 January 1956. ProQuest 1305819563.

[8] "You Can't Escape". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[9] Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 403. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.

[10] "myReviewer.com - Review for You Can't Escape".

[11] Richards, Justin (24 July 2015). "You Can't Escape". Blueprint Review. Retrieved 15 March 2025.

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