I notice that one or two reviewers on this site have been quite kind to THE GILDED CAGE, a British crime potboiler set in the murky world of art forgery. I thought it was quite the bore, and certainly no masterpiece given the assured direction of John Gilling whose films were usually reasonably entertaining. As is the norm, this is a Tempean picture produced by the hard-working team of Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman.The film features the flat footed Alex Nicol as the imported American star who randomly gets drawn into the hunt for a forged stolen painting when a beautiful woman (Ursula Howells) is murdered. As usual there are numerous criminals to contend with, as well as the unhelpful police force. THE GILDED CAGE emulates plenty of British B-movies of the period but lacks the right pacing and easy scripting of the entertaining ones. When the highlight is an early cameo from Michael Balfour you know you're in trouble. There are a couple of interesting faces in support, particularly Clifford Evans in a stock role and the great Elwyn Brook-Jones, but they're no reason to tune in.

Alex Nicol is the parachuted in American actor in this thriller which takes a long time to get going.In fact the first real action only comes after 18 minutes when the first murder takes place.After that the over complicated plot really lapses into a trance.Much of the mystery is surrounding the eponymous painting and which one is the fake and the other the real thing.Nicol in this instance is an American serviceman whose brother has become involved with an art smuggling gang.As is usual in these films he runs rings around the Scotland Yard detectives.Given the name of the director rather a disappointing effort.

That was one of the few John Gilling's films that still miss in my collection. The other which I don't have ones are probably comedies or features that I search not very hard. I saw all his horror, adventure and crime movies. This one is not the best ever directed by him. Pure routine crime flick, with an American fly-boy - military guy - played by Alex Nicol who tries to find a murderer...Nearly a sleepy story for me who likes unusual tales, or action packed ones in replacement of a certain originality. Not a bad movie either. But lost in an ocean of billions of ones very like. Just a rare film from a famous UK director, who would deserve to be shown more often in film libraries all over the world. I found many good features among those he made: MAN INSIDE, TIGER BY THE TAIL, VOICE OF MERRIL, PICK UP ALLEY, and I talk here only of the crime flicks; well not them all.Don't miss it, although...