Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

Boring, long, and too preachy.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

THE BREAK is a typical British crime picture which effortlessly delivers the goods in a low budget way. It's one of those films where a bunch of characters are holed up in an isolated location and each have their own motivations for being there, although this time around it's a grubby farmhouse B&B which gives the film a kind of muddy, down to earth charm: a story of barns and mud-splattered vehicles, if you will.Presiding over things is William Lucas, a violent escaped criminal in the great British B-movie tradition. Lucas plays a truly sinister and ruthless character who dominates the proceedings quite considerably. Writer hero Tony Britton is a bore by comparison, but there are some finely-judged supporting performances here from the likes of Robert Urquhart and Edwin Richfield as a farm worker.Hard-working director Lance Comfort gets every penny of his budget up on the screen and there are no slow spots or glaring errors that stand out. The female characters have more importance to the storyline than usual and there are some exciting set-pieces including a chase through the countryside that reminded me of a scene in THE WALKING DEAD involving the Governor; a film to rival the big boys at times, then.

A convicted armed robber, Jacko Thomas (William Lucus), jumps from a speeding train and kills his police escort. At a lonely Dartmoor hotel, the proprietor Tredegar (Eddie Byrne) is arranging an escape route for Jacko who plans to take the proceeds of a robbery and his sister, Sue (Christina Gregg),to begin a new life in Argentina. But, things are complicated when famed novelist, Greg Parker (Tony Britten), and private eye, Pearson (Robert Urqhart), check in at the hotel. When Jacko learns about Pearson, he kills him in a fit of panic but, in actual fact, he was collecting evidence for divorce proceedings on behalf of Parker's wife who ditched him after his last book flopped. Meanwhile, the novelist has been striking up a friendship with Sue. Another murder occurs and Parker narrowly avoids falling victim to Jacko himself. Parker must find away of alerting the police to the happenings at the hotel and stop Jacko escaping with Sue and the loot. But, can Parker convince Sue of her beloved brother's homicidal tendencies?A minor but highly effective little suspenser from director Lance Comfort who,during the 1950's and early 60's, became a man in demand and made scores of second features after his "A" feature career never really got off the ground. These ranged from the downright poor to the average and a handful of exceptional gems that showed that noteworthy efforts did sometimes come from this oft-maligned corner of British filmmaking. Comfort succeeds in creating much in the way of suspense and tension here and the attractive setting of lonely Dartmoor enhances the feeling of claustrophobia heightened by some nice sets and Basil Emmott's (another b-pic veteran)excellent b/w photography. Good performances too - William Lucas is suitably thuggish and frightening in the role of the killer and Christina Gregg is suitably naive and vulnerable in the role of his sister, Sue, who has no idea throughout about her brother being a cold blooded killer. Gregg was highly effective in another of Lance Comfort's better films - Rag Doll - in which she plays a teenage runaway who falls in love with a pop singing Soho criminal played By Jess Conrad. Highly recommended viewing. There are many familiar faces from British film and television such as Eddie Byrne (The Mummy, Island Of Terror), Robert Urqhart (The Curse Of Frankenstein)and Edwin Richfield who showed up in many episodes of cult British TV shows of the era including The Avengers.

Unlike what the other reviewer said Jacko Thomas doesn't make his escape from Dartmoor prison, he doesn't even get there. It's starts with Jacko Thomas been escorted by two plainclothes police officers (by train) to Dartmoor prison. he starts fighting them and jumps off of the speeding train with one of them. This one he later kills. He is then transported by a boat and a Landrover to the 'Tredgar's Farm Guesthouse' in the middle of nowhere. The next day three other guests arrive, the writer Greg Parker, Joseph Parker (who is played by Robert Urguhart, in almost the same way as he played Monckton in the 'Danger Man' episode 'Man With The Foot'), the last visitor is Jacko's beautiful sister Sue who has brought his stolen money. Fast paced and excellent direction from Lance Comfort. Lots of Twists and turns in the plot including Pearson 'phoning someone to tell them where Jacko is or does he mean Parker? and with Jacko having an affair with Tredgar's wife. Pretty good plot wise. Will he make his escape or not?

What a wonderful little British thriller. A real crime movie, fast paced, a good cast of actors. Powerful performances. An effective score too. It begins with the sequence of an escape from Dartmoor prison, in the British country side, in the middle of nowhere. The escapists are of course helped by a bunch of hoods. And every one get hidden in a sort of cottage. There is a very exciting chase, in the country side, between a running man and a Land Rover, in the mud.We already know the actors. I don't remember their names, but I saw them in lots of films from this era. Lance Comfort has not made so many movies, but they are all efficient.