User reviews

Cliff Goodwins ironically makes no mention of this film in his biography of Sid James despite it containing one of his most interesting film roles from his early gangster days, opposite Bonar Colleano.

'Sydney' (as he was then billed) is immaculately dressed, wears a stylish moustache and attempts an Italian accent as criminal kingpin Gino Rossini in this dryly humorous second feature with the usual excellent location work by Monty Berman, a guest appearance by child star Andrew Ray's old man Ted and a final scene with Simone Silva obviously intended to evoke 'The Third Man'.

Bonar Colleano is a once-good reporter diving into a bottle. While the other reporters are talking about the forthcoming arrest of crime boss Sidney James (this being a dramatic role, Sid uses his full name and an Italian accent). Announcing they're looking for news while he makes it, Colleano writes a story about James eluding the police, sends it to his editor and then calls James to warn him. He then badgers James' girl friend, Simone Silva, into telling him where the man is, goes there, and spends the rest of the movie as James' prisoner, sending out news stories through child actor Ted Ray.

John Gilling has written a movie that depends on the characters, and the writing does not have much depth to it, but under his directors the actors rise to the occasion and inhabit the roles far outside their usual casting. James is brutal and thuggish and paranoid; Colleano is brash and uncaring, broken. It's a reminder that although performers like James, a star because of the image he projected in seemingly hundreds of CARRY ON films and other comedies, was an actor, and eager to take on roles that would challenge him. Having the dirtiest laugh in show business might be his bread and butter, but it was nice to do something way out of the ordinary.

This crime drama has some decent atmospheric settings and touches, but the rest of the movie is far too dreary to be satisfying. Most of the story concerns Tom Buchan, a journalist who wants to get the life story of Gino, a notorious crime boss. The two hide out together in an abandoned theater and make plans for Gino's getaway, while Gino tells Buchan about his life. They use a naive young boy to send messages to those outside. The abandoned building setting is done pretty well, and is quite suitable to the story. There is also some rather good use of lighting and other detail to set an appropriate tone.

Unfortunately, most of the rest of the movie is just not very good at all. The biggest problem is with the characters. The journalist is supposed to be the hero, but he is self-centered, irresponsible, vain, and not nearly as clever as he (or the script-writer) thinks he is. The rest of the characters are either offensive brutes or are inexcusably foolish. The generally weak, stale dialogue doesn't make things any better. The story itself has some interesting features, but moves too slowly, and without any worthwhile characters to follow, there are many drab and lifeless stretches. The climactic sequence does hold some drama, and could have been quite good - but all the characters are such losers that there just isn't any reason to care about what happens to them, so the climax loses much of its impact.

There are some good features to "Escape By Night", and it could have been a much better movie with better characters and writing. But as it stands, there is really no reason to watch it unless you are a big fan of any and all crime/gangster movies, regardless of their quality.

To me Sid James was the embodiment of the "Carry on" series. Sid was a very beloved comical actor. "Escape by Night" gives us the opportunity to watch him in a serious role. Sid is convincing as the Italian gangster, Gino Rossi. Perhaps he is too convincing. As with Stellan Skarsgård's portrayal of the Russian citizen Dima, Sid doesn't play a character, but rather a stereotype or a cliché. Rossi is highly suspicious, violent and trigger-happy. Just, what you would expect from an Italian gangster. Sadly his character becomes too one-dimensional.

I must openly admit that this film didn't engage me. I am no fan of gangster films. I more like "whodunits" and psychological thrillers. The plot is very protracted. What enlivens the film is the presence of Andrew Ray as the working class boy, but today I think it would be difficult to convince a boy of his age that you are a secret agent.