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The Main Chance
The Main Chance
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John Knight
Screenplay by	Richard Harris
Based on	a story; by Edgar Wallace
Produced by	Jack Greenwood
Starring	Grégoire Aslan; Edward de Souza; Tracy Reed
Cinematography	James Wilson
Edited by	Derek Holding
Music by	Bernard Ebbinghouse
Production; company	Merton Park Studios
Distributed by	Anglo-Amalgamated
Release date	1964;
Running time	59 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Main Chance is a 1964 British second feature ('B')^[1] film directed by John Knight and starring Grégoire Aslan, Edward De Souza and Tracy Reed.^[2] Part of the series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries films made at Merton Park Studios, it was written by Richard Harris based on a story by Wallace.

Plot

Criminal mastermind Potter needs a plane to smuggling jewels out of France, and sends his mistress Christine to recruit Michael Blake. Blake agrees, but plans to double-cross Potter, with the help of his accomplice Joe Hayes. Hayes ambushes Potter's car and steals the jewels, but finds pebbles have been substituted. Potter radios Blake who is in mid-flight, telling him his plane is rigged with explosives which he will detonate by wireless. But Christine has already disarmed the detonator and is in the plane with Blake and the diamonds.

Cast

Grégoire Aslan as Potter
Edward de Souza as Michael Blake
Tracy Reed as Christine
Stanley Meadows as Joe Hayes
Jack Smethurst as Ross
Bernard Stone as Miller
Will Stampe as Carter
Julian Strange as butler
Tony Bailey as chauffeur
Joyce Barbour as Madame Rozanne

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A neatly constructed tale of dishonour among thieves, with one comparative novelty in that nobody is killed or arrested. Grégoire Aslan's philosophic Potter and Edward De Souza's Blake – who comes over as a cross between John Bentley and the young George Sanders – between them project a coolly refreshing air of cynicism. Even so, and despite Potter's Goldfinger gadgets, it's not as good as it should have been: the direction is uninventive to an extent that borders on the obtrusive."^[3]

References

^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 236. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
^ "The Main Chance". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ "The Main Chance". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 32 (372): 76. 1 January 1965. ProQuest 1305825394 – via ProQuest.