Escape Reviews

An oddball but engrossing film has Harrison as an ex-WW II air force ace talking to a prostitute in Hyde Park when a policeman interrupts, treating the girl roughly. Harrison shoves the bobby away in a scuffle and the officer is accidentally killed when he freakishly hits his head. Harrison is put on trial and then sent to prison for three years. One fog-bound night Harrison flees Dartmoor Prison and is taken in by Cummins, who feeds and clothes him. Harrison vows he will never return to prison but Cummins persuades him to surrender after he takes refuge in a church and can't bear to have the parson, Wooland, lie to protect him. He walks out to the police knowing that Cummins will be waiting for him. This was a remake of the 1930 British release and a decided improvement on the Galsworthy story, particularly because of the dynamic talent of Harrison and top-drawer support from a fine cast. Mankiewicz's adroit direction and Young's imaginative lensing brought the story up to date and made it a taut thriller.