dmacewen-619-299258 There are three things you should know if you were unfortunate enough to read the review currently given prominence by IMDb: 1) Rag Doll has fine performances from such terrific character actors as Hermione Baddeley (Scrooge), Kenneth Griffith (1984), and Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange), as well as yet another ingratiating turn from the lovely Christina Gregg; 2) Gregg's character (Carol) was not nearly as naive as another reviewer claims, as she's aware of what Joe is from the moment she sees him; and, 3) 17-year-old girls are and have always been the most naive and reckless creatures on God's green earth, which means that the screenwriters went far too easy on Carol. I suppose they could have gotten a better choice for the J.V. than Jess Conrad, but it's always fun to see an AYBS alumnus in an older film. Rag Doll is an example of the many modestly effective, medium-length program fillers prevalent in Britain at the time. In addition to Lance Comfort, some directors to look for include Henry Cass, Montgomery Tully, John Gilling, and Charles Saunders.

jamesraeburn2003 A naive teenage girl, Carol (Christina Gregg), runs away from her unhappy life with her alcoholic guardian (Patrick Magee) and their truck drivers café to London. Alone and vulnerable in Soho, Carol is taken in by nightclub and arcade owner Mort Wilson (Kenneth Griffith) and a fortune teller, the Princess (Hermione Baddeley) who give her a place to live and a job. Carol falls hopelessly in love with pop singer and Soho crook, Joe Shane (Jess Conrad), after hearing him sing at Wilson's club. Despite warnings from Wilson and the Princess about his criminality, Carol gets pregnant with his child and marries him. Carol thinks she can settle him down by getting him to focus on his musical talent but, as she is about discover, with Joe its a case of once a criminal, always a criminal. He tells her that he can lay his hands on a lot of money and that they can begin a new life together in Canada. He gets Carol to be his alibi by having the pair of them go to a cinema and, instructing her to retain their ticket stubs, he slips out during the film and breaks into Wilson's house and steals his money. But, Wilson catches him and shoots him in the shoulder fatally wounding him. But, Joe who is also armed, fires back and shoots Wilson dead...An enjoyable second feature crime drama from b-pic veteran Lance Comfort. While it is undeniably a very minor offering and no classic it survives as a time capsule into an era of British filmmaking that has long since gone. Conrad, who had some minor pop hits back in the early sixties but found greater success as an actor, is suitably cocky in the role of the young thief and Christina Gregg, who appeared in another of Comfort's better b-features, The Break, is very good as the young, vulnerable and naive teenager who thinks she knows best and ends up paying a terrible price for falling in with Joe despite being warned before hand. Other notable members of the cast include Patrick Magee - a familiar face to fans of British horror films and veteran British actress Hermione Baddeley (Brighton Rock, Room At The Top). Some of the rock and roll styled incidental music composed by Martin Slavin isn't actually bad and music buffs will observe that the backing band in Wilson's club are no other than The Dave Clark Five who would soon go on to become one of the era's top beat groups. Although most of these films tended to be studio bound, Comfort manages to give the seedy Soho setting a real sense of place and atmosphere and he is most ably assisted in this by the excellent b/w camera-work of Basil Emmott who shot several of these films for directors like Comfort and Vernon Sewell.

malcolmgsw Jess Conrad was one of a host of 60s pop idols who appeared in films.Cliff Richards and Adam Faith are other names that come to mind.However Conrads acting was so bad that as is evidenced here he couldn't act his way out of a paper bag.This film was destined for the bottom half of double bills and it looks it.Filmed on location in the West End which i knew well.Conrad comes out of the Astoria Charring Cross Road,where The Alamo is showing.I saw that film in that cinema in 1961 so i found it very nostalgic.Kenneth Griffiths is good support as a seedy nightclub owner and Hermoine Badderly suitably endearing as the ex tart who looks after the young girl.One can only wonder if girls of 17 were as naive as this one even in 1960.It is available to view on DVD.

GUENOT PHILIPPE This little British film begins like a boring drama about teenagers, and their revolt against society. But the following is rather better than that. It tells the story of a young girl who gets away from her town to go to London, to her auntie's home. London, the big city and its high lights. But also its dangers. All kind of dangers. Especially men. All kind of men. The female lead falls in love with a youngster like her, a handsome night club singer who happens to be a petty hood, nothing more. And our young girl is also harassed by an elder man, who is himself in love with her. A wealthy man. And, of course, the young lover of the girl is searching for the big money. Easy money...You can guess the following. After all, it begins like a drama and ends like a real film noir. But it's not THEY LIVE BY NIGHT, GUN CRAZY or BONNIE AND CLYDE.But please don't miss it. This little feature is very rare.