User reviews

The Frightened City is one of several films where Sean Connery is getting more and more noticed, leading to the stardom he would obtain the following year as James Bond. Though he's third billed in The Frightened City, it's his performance you'll remember.

Herbert Lom, a seemingly respectable businessman, is asked to launder some money by Alfred Marks one of London's top crime bosses. It occurs to Lom he's in unique position to make some really good money off all the crime bosses of London if they can be organized. Using Marks as a front, Lom does just that and the two of them hire Connery to be their chief enforcer in their protection racket.

It all works out really well when the hoods are muscling small businessmen for protection, but when they start going after bigger targets David Davies becomes squeamish and Lom and Marks decide he's to be eliminated. They use Connery to set him up and when Connery realizes he's unwittingly helped do in a friend he becomes a man with a mission. It's never good to have Sean Connery with a mission after you.

I think you can figure out the rest of the film. The Frightened City is a plot done many times over in American noir films which cycle had ended about five years earlier in America. This one gives you a nice glimpse of the seamier side of London. It was interesting by the way to hear the objections to going after big targets who might have influence with members of Parliament and the Home Office. Crooks are the same all over the world, pick on those you think can't fight back.

John Gregson is the Scotland Yard inspector who heads what we would call the organized crime unit there. He represents the good guys, but it's the bad ones that make The Frightened City an interesting film.

A better than average script from Leigh Vance and director John Lemont and a highly charismatic performance from a pre-Bond Sean Connery give this British gangster picture something of a lift. It's hardly ground-breaking and the plot offers nothing new but it's tough and well cast, (as well as Connery there is excellent work from Herbert Lom and Alfred Marks as villains even if we do have to put up with the dull John Gregson on the right side of the law), and it passes ninety or so minutes pleasantly enough.

Just pre-Bondage, I find it beyond incredible that in all the years the IMDb has been around, only ONE person thus far, has commented on this film!

True, it was no groundbreaker even in its time - a bit of the old "know wot I mean?" crime drama, but hell it was a solidly made little piece and carries what I believe is an appropriate rating here. One that would probably gain it an inclusion in the top 4000 movies which is better than many can claim! (the greater majority actually)

You may note the film score here was in the capable hands of top Brit musical director (at the time) Norrie Paramor. Now Norrie was the musical arranger in 1961 for somewhat popular pop icon Cliff Richard, whose backing group THE SHADOWS (hands up anyone remembers Hank Marvin and Jet Harris!) had a huge hit in 1961 with....you guessed it - THE FRIGHTENED CITY! I even have a copy!

A slimmer Connery but he delivers the goods here along with veteran Brit great Herbert Lom, both of whom were previously seen together in 1958's HELL DRIVERS!

As withnail-4 (New England) correctly observes...gives nostalgia a boost, if nothing else!

'The Frightened City' is an interesting crime drama set in a pre-Beatles England featuring a strong performance from Sean Connery, the year before he became a movie legend as James Bond. Connery plays Paddy Damion a thief who is recruited by a mobster (Alfred Marks) to oversee his money collection. Paddy is no thug but takes the job because his partner (Kenneth Griffith) has been injured in a robbery and he feels obligated to support him. Marks is actually the puppet of criminal mastermind Zhernikov (Herbert Lom), who has the image of a respectable businessman, but is in fact manipulating the local mobsters for his own ends. Add to this mix the beautiful Anya (Yvonne Romain), wanna be singer and Zhernikov's mistress, who Paddy immediately takes a shine to, and Sayers (John Gregson) the dedicated cop trying to crack open organized crime and you've got yourself a pretty cool attempt at Brit Noir. Connery is terrific, Lom even better and I enjoyed seeing Kenneth Griffith and Yvonne Romain again after their supporting roles in the classic shocker 'Circus Of Horrors' starring Anton Diffring. 'The Frightened City' is worth a look.

THE FRIGHTENED CITY is one of the films that Sean Connery made in the year before he found fame and success as James Bond in 1962's DR. NO. This one's a crime epic with a much more complex plot than is usual for the British B-picture genre: it involves rival gangsters setting up extensive criminal operations and subsequently falling out and gunning for each other over turf and business.

Connery is the young tough brought in to restore order and he brings plenty of warmth and charisma to what is otherwise a pretty tough role. The supporting cast is very good and well worth tuning in for. Herbert Lom isn't in it too much unfortunately but Alfred Marks, who I've only previously seen in comic fare like DESERT MICE, is fine as a really hateful character. John Gregson slips into the well-worn shoes of the detective with ease. Yvonne Romain (THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF) is an arresting femme fatale. Patrick Holt plays another cop and George Pastell a put-upon Italian who is the subject of one or two racist gags. Kenneth Griffith bags the most sympathetic part as the crippled friend. Marianne Stone, Bruce Seton, and even Stephen Lewis (Blakey from ON THE BUSES!) appear in bit parts. There isn't a wealth of action in THE FRIGHTENED CITY, but the plot feels fresh, involved, and fast-moving, and the ending is particularly strong.

'The Frightened City' stars both Sean Connery and Herbert Lom just before their iconic appearances in the Bond & Pink Panther series respectively (although Lom already had a substantial film career before The Pink Panther series).

But it wasn't the first time they appeared together, having appeared in 1957's 'Hell Drivers'. And it's this comparison that weakens TFC as while both films are similarly hard-nosed, rough-edged action films, HD is superior more interesting characters, compelling drama and more vivid action scenes.

That isn't to say TFC is a bad film - it's solidly entertaining with a good atmosphere and Connery displaying the charisma that was about to make him a major star (plus a nicely underplayed turn from Lom as the villain). But it's too conventional in its plotting and lacking great action scenes to be up to HD's level.

Still, TFC is a decent film and worth a look

The film is above average, well made, but lacking the style or brio that makes a good US or Italian crime film really fun. Sean Connery is great to look at in his leaner, pre-Bond form, and Herbert Lom is excellent. Connery plays a low-level mobster, and Lom is the criminal mastermind behind the mobs. It's interesting to contrast the portrayal of violence in this early 60s British film with American or other later portrayals. The approach here is so banal, and the mobsters are obviously pulling their punches in the fight scenes. The director seems completely uninterested in making the violence realistic or exciting. The final fight, however, has some choreography to it and a few interesting touches. In summation, a paint by numbers job, competent British B film, uninspired film making, but good nostalgic fun.

Surprisingly there is only one review for this film from the UK.I can say that I knew Soho well at the time this film was made when the protection rackets were controlled by the Krays and they really made the characters in this film seem like choirboys.Unlike Connery in the climax,witnesses were either to terrified to talk or were nobbled.I happened to be at the Old Bailey and was in court when the judge found the Krays not guilty.It was only their desire to match each other for killings that finally got them put behind bars.It is interesting to note that this film only got an "A" certificate so obviously the censor did not believe that it was that tough a film.Connery was third billed but clearly the star of the film.Alfred Marks ,one of my favourites,plays against type as a slimy crime boss who has his ambitions spiked in a painful way.A scene I have always remembered.This film was indicative of the direction in which the film industry was headed.

"The Frightened City" paints an interesting picture of the London underworld circa 1960. Sean Connery gives a great performance as Paddy Damian a heavy who does some of the dirty work for a couple of shady crime bosses played by Alfred Marks & Herbert Lom. Lom, in particular, gives a superb performance as Waldo Zhernikov a very intelligent, suave, hard-headed businessman. John Gregson plays Detective Inspector Sayers trying his best to curb their dodgy dealings. For us lads, it has the ravishing-looking Yvonne Romain playing a dancer & singer in a nightclub owned by our crime bosses. I have read that it was his performance in this movie that led directly to Sean Connery being offered the role of James Bond the following year in the first Bond movie Dr No. A very good watch!.

One of a clutch of vintage British thrillers released by Anchor Bay Entertainment (back when it was still going by that name and enjoying its deserved status as one of the major specialist DVD labels) that also included two superior Stanley Baker efforts – Val Guest's HELL IS A CITY (1959) and Joseph Losey's THE CRIMINAL (1960). That THE FRIGHTENING CITY comes up short when compared to these two movies is perhaps unsurprising in view of the fact that director John Lemont – best-known today (if at all) for the campy monster flick KONGA (1961) – is clearly not the equal of either Guest or Losey at the top of their game. In fact, there is little evidence here of anything as individualistic as Guest's combination of wit and grit or Losey's extraordinary expressionist pyrotechnics and, ultimately, the film rises or falls on the strength of its actors. A pre-Bond Sean Connery may be third billed but he commendably carries the film on his shoulders for much of its running time; smooth-talking shady lawyer Herbert Lom is also quite good but his screen time is much less than his top billing might suggest; lock-jawed copper John Gregson adequately stands up to both men, pitting them one against the other when Connery's friend (a reluctant 'director' in Lom's crime syndicate) is shot in cold blood by Lom's sleazy partner (a scene-stealing turn from Alfred Marks). Of course, a gangster is only as good as his moll and Lom's is ambitious French singer Yvonne Romain (actually, she's half-Maltese!) who soon gets under Connery's skin (or should I say bed sheets) but does not think twice of betraying his whereabouts to the police when they threaten her with deportation! Also featured in the cast are Kenneth Griffith (as Connery's crippled ex-partner from his cat burglar days) and Italian restaurateur George Pastell (who soon finds out that 'accidents will happen' when one does not pay his dues in protection money).

Reat evidence of Sean Connery's star power in a film made before he became one, "The Frightened City."

Herbert Lom plays a shrewd accountant who comes up with the idea of combining all of the protection rackets around London into one big one.

Creat evidence of Sean Connery's star power in a film made before he became one, "The Frightened City."

Herbert Lom plays a shrewd accountant who comes up with the idea of combining all of the protection rackets around London into one big one.

Connery plays his muscle, and his charisma, looks, and voice steal the show. His character is ruthless enough, until he realizes it's a little too ruthless and has to make a decision.

Definitely worth seeing for a young Connery, who has star power written all over him.reat evidence of Sean Connery's star power in a film made before he became one, "The Frightened City."

Herbert Lom plays a shrewd accountant who comes up with the idea of combining all of the protection rackets around London into one big one.

Connery plays his muscle, and his charisma, looks, and voice steal the show. His character is ruthless enough, until he realizes it's a little too ruthless and has to make a decision.

Definitely worth seeing for a young Connery, who has star power written all over him.

I'm the first to admit that the production values of this movie aren't exactly first rate. Indeed, the majority of the sets look decidedly artificial and little more than cardboard cut-outs. However, I can easily forget about all of that as we have a tense film to enjoy! Sean Connery may be billed third but once he enters the story, he is the one who takes centre stage. Herbert Lom and John Gregson are on hand to provide first class, rock solid support from beginning to end. I enjoy the scene with Gregson interrogating Connery at Scotland Yard, the intensity builds nicely. Watching Sean Connery in action, I can understand why he would be cast as James Bond. He moves with grace and assurance (one reason why Broccoli and Saltzman chose him) and displays his tough streak when necessary. The story is nothing special in itself but it is done with some style. After attempting to unite all the London criminal firms into one huge organisation, you just know it will end in tears! Not much in the way of location photography but I can overlook that as well.

The final lap for Sean Connery becomes the legendary James Bond on upcoming 007' Mr. No, this small British Noir has the upper-class persona of the foreigner Hebert Lom as coldest mastermind villain behind the scenes to set up an American old fashionable way criminal syndicate at London on early sixties (what a novelty) to racketeering and sell protection of small business, after a successful beginning they wondering going bigger, meanwhile the Scotland Yard at their neck to tackle the extortions.

Sean Connery has been getting strong muscling a long time, therefore he was ready to higher flyers, even had as third billing casting we already oversee a bright forthcoming stardom, as mobster he delivers well often attracting by gorgeous girls as Yvonne Romain, the picture also exposed the burlesque environment at London whereby the bleak hands of crime grabs their share, sadly the offering denotes unconvincing!!

Thanks for reading.

Resume: First watch: 2024 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.

Welsh actor, Kenneth Griffith sounds like he took Cockney lessons from Dick Van Dyke. Alfred Marks, remembered by myself, primarily as a balding and humorous man, seen sporting hair.....and a gun. Womanizing, pre-Bond Sean Connery, is breaking hearts, while everyone else is breaking bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Beyond this improbable trio, Mr. Big (Herbert Lom), in cahoots with Mr. Fixit (Marks), have a light bulb over the head moment, deciding to bring together the disparate extortionists, protectionists and racketeers under one umbrella, into a single conglomerate, a super syndicate, spreading a plague of fear, terror and empty wallets across the capital, whilst causing senior detective, John Gregson an infestation of grey hairs.

All the nuts and bolts appear to be in place, but despite one shooting incident, a demolition job by the heavy mob and a title track performed by the then fashionable Shadows, enhanced along the way with a smattering of futuristic guitar licks from Hank Marvin, the movie never quite gels, or seems particularly cohesive. The frequent discussions, disagreements and dissensions among the various factions blunt any significant build up of pace and tension.

Words like immersive, enthralling and riveting simply don't apply to 'Frightened City''s somewhat lacklustre narrative. It's the kinda movie you can happily pause to grab a quick coffee, or check the latest football scores. In short, it's O. K., but not K. O.!

Pre James Bond Connery stars in this mid-week pot boiler exploring the virtues and loyalties that are challenged in the emerging crime era, where villains don't observe the traditional customs leading to a turf war with several casualties. Connery is a small time racketeer on the side, his old friend Alf is a crime boss (Davies) who falls-out with his hoodlum peers and is callously dispatched by the unscrupulous Harry (Marks) after Connery unwittingly sets him up. Connery of course vows revenge, but crime syndicate boss Lom pulls the strings from a distance, outwitting Scotland Yard (Gregson) and relying on stand-over tactics to retain his power.

Melodramatic at times, despite a number of plot twists and double-crosses, "Frightened City" fails to frighten. Kenneth Griffith as a crippled small time crook defines the picture's message when he steels Connery's resolve to avenge his friend's treatment and reinstate some modicum of honour among thieves. It's a different lens through which to tell this otherwise formula tale, though ultimately undeveloped. Gregson is solid as Scotland Yard's wily crime stopper and Marks played his toe-cutter role with a smarmy realism; disappointingly, Lom is confined by his essentially extraneous scenes and doesn't have the opportunity to develop a consistent, forceful characterisation.

Good to see Connery in a leading role before his James Bond transformation, displaying those rough edges that were destined to propel him into stardom, but "Frightened City" is perhaps notable only for that appearance.

John Lemont is unfortunately more know for directing KONGA, a some kind of poor man's KING KONG, very cheap but funny, than for this crime film, with also SHAKEDOWN, and also GREEN BUDDHA, a mystery yarn. Sean Connery is obviously very interesting here, because in a supporting character, very far from his further roles; as he was in TARZAN'S GREATEST ADVENTURE. Connery plays a rather ambivalent character, a goon, a mob henchman specialized in racket, but not entirely nasty, that's where the strength is. Herbert Lom is absolutely great in the mob leader role. So to summarize, it is worth watching for Connery's presence and character. Even if he had had not the career he was famous for, even if he had never played 007, his character here would have been very interesting. All the more so with distance and James Bond roles. I always crave for supporting characters. They are often more interesting than the main ones.

With a terrific title like THE FRIGHTENED CITY, a British Neo Noir that actually goes the 1930's-style Classic Gangstr route, you'd think characters would be more... well... frightened... but random bursts of mobsters messing up nightclubs that don't pay for extortion happens so fast there's nothing to really fear but broken glass....

The plot is simple and straight from the Al Capone playbook of a CITY being divided by gangsters/businessman; that's the idea given by first-billed Herbert Lom as a shady accountant, usually a side-role in these kind of action/dramas, but he was more famous than fellow HELL DRIVERS veteran Sean Connery in the muscular role...

The following year's first James Bond's (and thereafter superstar actor) is a former cat burglar hired by climber Alfred Marks (through Lom) to keep the various thugs in line. But it's never entirely clear what Connery's Paddy Damion is doing except romancing Lom's French singing moll, and this film's ingenue, Yvotte Romain... which, in a crime flick supposedly all about danger, is the riskiest thing going...

But overall, nothing exciting really happens, a tremendous let-down given the cast including token detective John Gregson, ultimately as bored as the mobsters (Lom, Marks) and our ambiguous Noir-like anti-hero Connery, who frankly has too good a conscience. Perhaps he'd have worked better as the cop.

I love being taken behind the scenes of seedy entertainment venues, but were they all so brightly lit? It's a cliché of this genre that you get the WHOLE of some ghastly ballad belted out by an artiste in search of a recording contract. The dancing is so determined to be rude that it just looks grotesque and coarse. Were all routines in nightclubs a travesty of some distant "primitive" culture - presumably more unbuttoned than the Brits. Alfred Marks is the only one worth watching. I don't see the appeal of Herbert Lom.