The Siege of Pinchgut (Original title)Four Desperate Men (Alternative title)
Dates: 1959 (Copyright), 11 October 1959 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Harry Watt
Synopsis: Matt Kirk escapes from prison in order to prove his innocence. When Kirk and his three accomplices attempt to make good their escape from Sydney harbour by boat, a mechanical fault sets the boat adrift and they end up on Pinchgut Island. The gang take the island's watchman and his family hostage as the police begin to close in.
Genre: Crime
Releases
Date: 1959Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: not specified - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 104 mins Length: 9347 FeetDialogue (original): English
Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v221 n11 10 Dec 1960: no known title]Language: English
In: Kinematograph Weekly n2707 20 Aug 1959 Page: 10
Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n2707 20 Aug 1959: no known title]Language: English
In: Die Filmwoche v14 n28 11 Jul 1959 Page: 12
Title: [Die Filmwoche - v14 n28 11 Jul 1959: no known title]Language: German
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v26 n309 October 1959 Page: 135
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v26 n309 October 1959: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 8 Jul 1959
Title: [Variety - 8 Jul 1959: no known title]Language: English
In: The Daily Cinema n8193 19 Aug 1959 Page: 7
Title: [The Daily Cinema - n8193 19 Aug 1959: no known title]Language: English
In: Filmblätter n28 14 Jul 1950 Page: 768
Title: [Filmblätter - n28 14 Jul 1950: no known title]Language: German
In: Page: 15
Title: [ - : no known title]
In:
Title: [ - : no known title]
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(8)
Accessible materials to view(3)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 9333 FeetBFI identifier: C-154768
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 9315 FeetBFI identifier: C-154773
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: DVDLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1584442
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Video materials(2)
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 98.3 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1583509
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Description: DVDLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1584442
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Film materials(6)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-1221645
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 9333 FeetBFI identifier: C-154768
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 9315 FeetBFI identifier: C-154773
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Original NegativeBase: AcetateSound: MuteLength: 9347 FeetBFI identifier: C-154767
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm PositiveBFI identifier: C-154774
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Re-recorded NegativeBase: AcetateSound: SoundLength: 9347 FeetStock date: 1959BFI identifier: C-154771
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Dates: 1959 (Copyright), 11 October 1959 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Harry Watt
Synopsis: Matt Kirk escapes from prison in order to prove his innocence. When Kirk and his three accomplices attempt to make good their escape from Sydney harbour by boat, a mechanical fault sets the boat adrift and they end up on Pinchgut Island. The gang take the island's watchman and his family hostage as the police begin to close in.
Genre: Crime
Releases
Date: 1959Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: not specified - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 104 mins Length: 9347 FeetDialogue (original): English
Credits
(30)
©/Production Company: Ealing Films Limited, Presents: Associated British Picture Corporation, A Michael Balcon Production: Michael Balcon, Associate Producer: Eric Williams, Production Manager: L.C. Rudkin, Production Supervisor: Hal Mason, Assistant Director: Michael Birkett, Assistant Director: Eric Price, Continuity: Helen Whitson, Screenplay by: Harry Watt, Jon Cleary, Script contribution by: Alexander Baron, Adapted by: Harry Watt, From an original story by: Inman Hunter, Lee Robinson, Director of Photography: Gordon Dines, 2nd Cameraman: Chic Waterson, Camera Operator: Herbert Smith, Editor: Gordon Stone, Art Director: Alan Withy, Wardrobe: Ron Beck, Make-up: William Lodge, Music composed by: Kenneth V. Jones, [Music] played by: The Sinfonia of London, [Music] conducted by: Dock Mathieson, Sound Supervisor: Stephen Dalby, Sound Recordist: Cyril Swern, Sound Editor: Lionel Selwyn, Made at: Associated British Elstree Studios
Cast
(20)
Aldo Ray (Matt Kirk), Heather Sears (Ann Fulton), Neil McCallum (Johnny Kirk), Victor Maddern (Bert), Carlo Justini (Luke), Barbara Mullen (Mrs. Fulton), Alan Tilvern (Superintendent Hanna), Gerry Duggan (Pat Fulton), Kenneth Warren (police commissioner), Richard Vernon (under secretary), Grant Taylor (Constable Macey), Ewan Macduff (naval captain), Martin Boddey (brigadier), Max Robertson (motorcycle policeman), John Pusey (small boy), Fred Abbott (constable), Deryck Barnes ([Sergeant Drake]), Barry Foster ([trapped sailor]), George Woodbridge ([newspaper editor]), Jack Taylor ([])
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(9)
In: Motion Picture Herald v221 n11 10 Dec 1960 Page: 947Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v221 n11 10 Dec 1960: no known title]Language: English
In: Kinematograph Weekly n2707 20 Aug 1959 Page: 10
Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n2707 20 Aug 1959: no known title]Language: English
In: Die Filmwoche v14 n28 11 Jul 1959 Page: 12
Title: [Die Filmwoche - v14 n28 11 Jul 1959: no known title]Language: German
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v26 n309 October 1959 Page: 135
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v26 n309 October 1959: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 8 Jul 1959
Title: [Variety - 8 Jul 1959: no known title]Language: English
In: The Daily Cinema n8193 19 Aug 1959 Page: 7
Title: [The Daily Cinema - n8193 19 Aug 1959: no known title]Language: English
In: Filmblätter n28 14 Jul 1950 Page: 768
Title: [Filmblätter - n28 14 Jul 1950: no known title]Language: German
In: Page: 15
Title: [ - : no known title]
In:
Title: [ - : no known title]
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(8)
Accessible materials to view(3)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 9333 FeetBFI identifier: C-154768
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 9315 FeetBFI identifier: C-154773
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: DVDLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1584442
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Video materials(2)
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 98.3 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1583509
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Description: DVDLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1584442
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Film materials(6)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-1221645
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 9333 FeetBFI identifier: C-154768
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 9315 FeetBFI identifier: C-154773
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Original NegativeBase: AcetateSound: MuteLength: 9347 FeetBFI identifier: C-154767
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm PositiveBFI identifier: C-154774
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Re-recorded NegativeBase: AcetateSound: SoundLength: 9347 FeetStock date: 1959BFI identifier: C-154771
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film