There was a moment early on when I mistook the lead actor for Joan Crawford; it turned out to be her distant relative, John, playing the part of an American star brought in for this gritty and reasonably clever crime story. “Starling” has escaped from prison in Manchester, and local police inspector "Martineau" (Stanley Baker) is certain he’ll go back to his old haunts to resolve past conflicts and recover his portio…

I’m not someone who enjoys games of chance; I don't even handle coins. Val Guest directed and adapted the screenplay from Maurice Proctor’s novel for this Hammer Films production, *Hell is a City*. The film features Stanley Baker, John Crawford, Billie Whitelaw, Maxine Audley, Donald Pleasence, Vanda Godsell, Joseph Tomelty, and George A. Cooper. Stanley Black composed the music, and Arthur Grant handled the cinem…