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Interpol
Interpol
	UK theatrical release poster
Directed by	John Gilling
Written by	John Paxton
Based on	Interpol; 1955 novel; by A.J. Forrest
Produced by	Albert R. Broccoli; Irving Allen
Starring	Victor Mature; Anita Ekberg; Trevor Howard
Cinematography	Ted Moore
Edited by	Richard Best
Music by	Richard Rodney Bennett
Production; company	Warwick Films
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	2 April 1957;
Running time	92 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom; USA
Language	English

Interpol (USA title: Pickup Alley; also known as International Police) is a 1957 British-American CinemaScope crime film noir directed by John Gilling and starring Victor Mature, Anita Ekberg, Trevor Howard, Bonar Colleano and Sidney James.^[1] The screenplay was by John Paxton, based on the 1955 novel of the same name by A.J. Forrest. The film was produced by Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli for Warwick Films.

It concerns an Interpol effort to stamp out a major drug-smuggling cartel in numerous countries.

In the United States, the film was released as a double feature with The Brothers Rico (1957).^[2]

Plot

Charles Sturgis is an FBI agent on the trail of a drug-smuggling operation run by crazed criminal mastermind Frank McNally, who has murdered Sturgis's sister. He travels to Europe to find McNally and destroy the organisation. In Rome he gets a tip that he can find McNally by following his mistress, Gina Broger. Sturgis is captured and beaten up, then rescued by an Interpol officer. Sturgess tails McNally to New York, where McNally falls to his death from a dockyard crane.

Cast

Victor Mature as Charles Sturgis
Anita Ekberg as Gina Broger
Trevor Howard as Frank McNally
Bonar Colleano as Amalio
Dorothy Alison as Helen
André Morell as Commissioner Breckner
Martin Benson as Captain Varolli
Eric Pohlmann as Etienne Fayala
Peter Illing as Captain Baris
Sydney Tafler as Curtis
Lionel Murton as Murphy
Danny Green as second bartender
Alec Mango as Salko
Sidney James as Joe as first bartender
Marne Maitland as Guido Martinelli
Harold Kasket as Kalish

Production

Michael Wilding was originally announced for the role later played by Trevor Howard.^[3]

The story was based on the files of the International Criminal Police Commission. Filming began on 15 August 1956 and took place in New York, Paris, Rome, Genoa (Italy), Madrid, London and Athens.^[4]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Despite extensive location shooting in London, Paris, Rome, Athens and New York, and an elaborate, elliptical sub-Welles plot, this film does not escape the common rut. It suffers from obvious and unresourceful type-casting, and badly fumbles its few climaxes. There is a superficial vitality about it – mainly achieved by noise; and Trevor Howard plays with jaded relish."^[5]

British film critic Leslie Halliwell said: "Drearily routine thick ear electrified by one performance but not helped by wide screen."^[6]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Howard dominates rather sloppy thriller."^[7]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "this feeble thriller about tracking down a dope-peddling syndicate by the international police force boasted that it was filmed in London, Paris, Athens, Naples, Rome, Lisbon and New York. It looks as though they sometimes forgot to take the script with them. Trevor Howard obviously relishes acting the master villain for a change, though co-stars Victor Mature and Anita Ekberg don't try to act at all."^[8]

References

^ "Interpol". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
^ Interpol at IMDb
^ Schallert, Edwin (24 March 1956). "Drama: 'Interpol' on Schedule for Wilding; Richards Booming; Elliott Sleuth". Los Angeles Times. p. 13.
^ OSCAR GODBOUT (23 June 1956). "GREGORY TO FILM NOVEL BY KANTOR: Producer Will Make 'On My Honor' From 'God and My Country' for R.K.O. Warwick Signs Two Of Local Origin". New York Times. p. 15.
^ "Interpol". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 24 (276): 60. 1 January 1957 – via ProQuest.
^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 217. ISBN 0586088946.
^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 328. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 468. ISBN 9780992936440.