Little Red Monkey

Little Red Monkey is a 1955 British thriller film directed by Ken Hughes and starring Richard Conte, Rona Anderson and Russell Napier.[1] Detectives from Scotland Yard investigate a series of murders of leading nuclear scientists, and are intrigued by strange reports received about the crimes. The film was based on a BBC Television series of the same name, written by Eric Maschwitz and produced by Bill Lyon-Shaw, which ran for six 30-minute episodes in 1953.[2] The film was released in the United States by Allied Artists as Case of the Red Monkey.

Little Red Monkey
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKen Hughes
Written byJames Eastwood
Ken Hughes
Based onstory by Eric Maschwitz
Produced byAlec C. Snowden
StarringRichard Conte
Rona Anderson
Russell Napier
Sylva Langova
CinematographyJosef Ambor
Edited byInman Hunter
Geoffrey Muller
Music byTrevor Duncan
Production
company
Distributed byAnglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors
Release date
  • 4 April 1955 (1955-04-04)
Running time
71 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The film was made by Anglo-Amalgamated at Merton Park Studios. The film was an international hit, and along with Confession proved a breakthrough for Anglo-Amalgamated. After its success the company began making more expensive productions, often hiring American stars for international appeal.[3][4]

Cast

Production

The film was based on a 1953 British television series starring Donald Houston and Honor Blackman. The show's theme tune was a hit.[5][6]

Film rights were acquired by Todon Productions who had produced Duel in the Jungle not long before. Tony Owens, who ran Todon, signed Richard Conte to play the lead; Conte had recently performed in the film Mask of Dust (also known as Race for Life) in England. Principal photography began on 24 May 1954 at Elstree Studios. The film was a co production with Anglo Guild.[7][8]

Reception

A contemporary review in The Monthly Film Bulletin said it had "meagre excitements".[9]

References
  1. BFI.org
  2. "Donald Houston and Honor Blackman in 'LITTLE RED MONKEY'". BBC Genome Project. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  3. Chibnall & McFarlane p.99
  4. Vagg, Stephen (14 November 2020). "Ken Hughes Forgotten Auteur". Filmink.
  5. LIMELIGHT BROUGHT HIM THE LIMELIGHT ...: Frank Chacksfield's name was practically unknown when he took the record market by storm Richards, Dick. Answers; London Vol. 125, Iss. 3237, (May 15, 1954): 7
  6. "Little Red Monkey: 6: In Which the Monkey Shows his Hand". Radio Times. BBC. 22–28 February 1953. p. 50.
  7. Drama: Maggie McNamara Due Soon for 'Black Widow'; Conte Set for Thriller Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 30 Apr 1954: A11
  8. Todon Doing 6th Picture Los Angeles Times 5 Feb 1956: D3.
  9. LITTLE RED MONKEY Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 22, Iss. 252, (Jan 1, 1955): 40.

Bibliography
  • Chibnall, Steve & McFarlane, Brian. The British 'B' Film. Palgrave MacMillan, 2009.


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