British Noir with a villainous Sellers
Midge | The Heartland | 06/22/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a gritty and grim British film noir that shows a very different side of the great Peter Sellers.
In a rare dramatic role, he is a ruthless and sadistic leader of a gang of car thieves. Filmed in atmospheric black and white with a jazz score (by John Barry), this is definitely a must see for fans of the genre and Sellers.
By all accounts, Sellers was a genius, but also a strange man who inhabited his characters and stayed in persona even when the director called "Cut!"
He also brought his work home with him. I read in a biography that his wife was very happy when this movie wrapped production! When you see his performance, you'll understand why."
Sellers Does Brando
David Baldwin | Philadelphia,PA USA | 06/10/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Despite the seedy London locales and the jazzy score by John Barry this tale of a down-on-his-luck cosmetics salesman who gets his car pinched by a gang of car thieves is overbaked melodrama. As the film progresses it just gets sillier and sillier. Peter Sellers, to let us know that he is "acting", chews whatever scenery is handy. He glowers, he emotes, he launches spittle. Recommended only for camp value or Sellers completists."
Interesting Suspense Drama in Moody Black and White
C. Rocklein | 02/28/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Never Let Go" from 1960, is a moody black and white piece starring Peter Sellers as head of a car theiving operation and Richard Todd, as the unlucky salesman who wants his car back. Peter Sellers isn't bad as a villain in this movie and I quickly got accustomed to him outside his usual comic role. Richard Todd plays a beleivable and sypathetic victim who we're rooting for all the way, despite his caring but unsupportive wife. Getting his car back becomes a mission of self-respect for salesman John Cummings (Richard Todd) who loses his job in the course of events making getting his car back all the more important.
The early 60s is kind of a distinct period for films from the few I've seen. Hitchcocks "Psycho" came out that year and so did the Twilight Zone.. Paul Newman's "The Hustler" in '61.. Maybe it's the just the black and white, or the cinematograpy. Or is it the styles and edgier themes? Another very good movie which I saw recently from this period (1962) was "Walk on the Wild Side" with a beautiful Jane Fonda and Laurence Harvey. I'm getting off track.. sorry. I liked this movie. Richard Todd's persistence was inspiring. And it felt somewhat historical seeing Peter Sellers in a role like this."