The Long Shadow is a 1961 British second feature ('B') drama film directed by Peter Maxwell and starring John Crawford, Susan Hampshire and Willoughby Goddard. It was written by Manning O'Brine and filmed at Pinewood Studios.
Contents
Plot summary
In Vienna during the Cold War, the Russians and Americans try to gain control of a boy who can be manipulated for political purposes. An American newspaper journalist attempts to save the Hungarian child and a Swedish nurse from certain death.
Cast
John Crawford as Kelly
Susan Hampshire as Gunilla
Willoughby Goddard as Schober
Humphrey Lestocq as Bannister
Rory O'Brine as Ruchi Korbanyi
Anne Castaldini as Magda
Margaret Robertson as mother
Bill Nagy as Garity
Lily Kann as old lady
Hana-Maria Pravda as matron
Gisele Burke as Lisel
Sean Sullivan as Burgen
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Yet another adventure of that meddlesome, gallant, punch-drunk type, the American foreign correspondent, this time engaged in spy-bashing and the foiling of kidnappers in a remarkably unconcerned Austria. As usual the mackintosh-clad East Europeans talk sinister but fight fair and are deservedly thwarted with heavy casualties. Perhaps what this worn-out fantasy genre needs to refurbish it is a drama about a sub-editor, kept late at the office impatiently revising the undoubtedly ill-phrased, garbled copy of these screen journalists-of-fortune who show talent for almost every activity but writing."