The Secret Place 1957
6.6 / 10
The Secret Place
British Melodrama and crime thriller that follows a group of jewel robbers after a major heist. The film makes extensive use of bombed out areas of London.
British Melodrama and crime thriller that follows a group of jewel robbers after a major heist. The film makes extensive use of bombed out areas of London.
Videos & Photos
All 0 Videos & 5 Photos
cast
Full Cast & Crew
... Molly Wilson
... Gerry Carter
... Freddie Haywood
... Mike Wilson
... Steve Waring
... Mr. Haywood
User reviews
See All 2 Reviews23 Jun 2021 by John Chard
Diamonds are not forever. The Secret Place is directed by Clive Donner and written by Linette Perry. It stars Belinda Lee, Ronald Lewis, Michael Brooke, Michael Gwynn, Geoffrey Keen and David McCallum. Music is by Clifton Parker and cinematography by Ernest Steward, Little seen and heard of piece of British noir, The Secret Place sits somewhere in between good and frustrating. Plot involves London crooks enacting a gems robbery and finding themselves at the mercy of an adolescent boy and his secret place. First and foremost the pluses here far outweigh the negatives. The cast list is a veritable roll call of British actors who need no introduction to fans of British film and TV. The cinematography on show is perpetually film noir in look, where cinematographer Steward (The 39 Steps/Payroll) fills 90% of the pic with monochrome menace and dark cloaked actions. The robbery at the center of the tale is suspenseful and has a cheeky glint in its eye, and with the cast on form - bolstered by an excellent child acting turn from Brooke, production value from London locales is bang on the money. However, the pacing of the pic is an issue, where as much as you want some depth to characterisations, the back and forward expansion of the key players takes up the bulk of the running time. It's also sad to report that the finale just fizzles out as a damp squib, almost as if the Hays Code was still in force and thriving in Britain! Is there still enough to keep this above average? Yes, definitely, but it's not a hidden gem by any stretch of the imagination. 6/10
Genres:
Release Date:
Feb 06, 1957 (United Kingdom)
Run Time:
1hr 38`
MMPA Rating:
Original Language:
English
Production Countries:
United Kingdom
Status:
Released
Plot Keywords:
Related Movies To
The Secret Place
Diamonds are not forever. The Secret Place is directed by Clive Donner and written by Linette Perry. It stars Belinda Lee, Ronald Lewis, Michael Brooke, Michael Gwynn, Geoffrey Keen and David McCallum. Music is by Clifton Parker and cinematography by Ernest Steward, Little seen and heard of piece of British noir, The Secret Place sits somewhere in between good and frustrating. Plot involves London crooks enacting a gems robbery and finding themselves at the mercy of an adolescent boy and his secret place. First and foremost the pluses here far outweigh the negatives. The cast list is a veritable roll call of British actors who need no introduction to fans of British film and TV. The cinematography on show is perpetually film noir in look, where cinematographer Steward (The 39 Steps/Payroll) fills 90% of the pic with monochrome menace and dark cloaked actions. The robbery at the center of the tale is suspenseful and has a cheeky glint in its eye, and with the cast on form - bolstered by an excellent child acting turn from Brooke, production value from London locales is bang on the money. However, the pacing of the pic is an issue, where as much as you want some depth to characterisations, the back and forward expansion of the key players takes up the bulk of the running time. It's also sad to report that the finale just fizzles out as a damp squib, almost as if the Hays Code was still in force and thriving in Britain! Is there still enough to keep this above average? Yes, definitely, but it's not a hidden gem by any stretch of the imagination. 6/10
OK, so it does sag somewhat in the middle - but otherwise this is quite a well paced crime drama that sees "Molly" (Belinda Lee) caught up in a plan by her friend "Gerry" (Ronald Lewis) that ensnares her impressionable brother "Mike" (David McCallum) and her even more impressionable young fan "Freddie" (Michael Brooke) into a daring diamond robbery. Turns out the youngster's dad is a policeman, and when he procures - unwittingly - a police uniform to assist the gang with their robbery; things begin to close in on "Molly", "Gerry" and the honest young man who happens upon the stones... There's not a great deal of jeopardy here - we sort of know from the outset what is going to happen, but Lee and the young Brooke are on good form and it shows us quite an interesting perspective on a still recovering post-war London populated by petty gangs and small time thieves who could be pretty brutal as required. It's a bit long and wordy - it could do with a bit more action, but it's got a tight cast with a decent plot that kills 90 minutes easily enough.
Cast & Crew of
The Secret Place
Directors & Credit Writers
Cast
... Molly Wilson
... Gerry Carter
... Freddie Haywood
... Mike Wilson
... Steve Waring
... Mr. Haywood
... Mrs. Haywood
... Paddy
... Harry
... Mrs. Wilson (uncredited)
FC
Fanny Carby... Woman with Pram (uncredited)
... Mrs. Wilson's Neighbour (uncredited)
... Receptionist (uncredited)
... Ticket Clerk (uncredited)
... Joan (uncredited)
... Mrs. Haywood's Neighbour (uncredited)
... Mother (uncredited)
... Man Inside (uncredited)
... Constable (uncredited)
... Police Inspector (uncredited)
Produced By
Videos & Photos of
The Secret Place
Photos ( 5 )
Related Movies To
The Secret Place
Ballerina (2025)
0 /10
Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Eve Macarro begins her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.
Run Time: 2hr 5` . MMPA: R . Release: 04 Jun 2025
Director: Chad Stahelski , Darrin Prescott , Matej Kricner
Producer: Kaley Smalley Romo , Ana de Armas , Chad Stahelski
Stars: Ana de Armas , Ian McShane , Anjelica Huston , Norman Reedus , Keanu Reeves , Lance Reddick
First Shift (2024)
0 /10
NYPD veteran Mike and rookie Angela tackle a high-stakes day on New York's toughest streets, diving headfirst into a vortex of danger and action. Their adrenaline-fueled pursuits and unexpected threats unfold as they navigate perilous encounters. Amidst the chaos, intense challenges forge unbreakable bonds.
Run Time: 1hr 29` . MMPA: . Release: 30 Aug 2024
Director: Béla Baptiste , Phillip Rush , Uwe Boll
Producer: Judy Bowman , Hilary Greer , Michael Roesch
Stars: Kristen Renton , Gino Anthony Pesi , James McMenamin , Garry Pastore , Michael Emery , Willie C. Carpenter
xXx (2002)
5.8 /10
Xander Cage is your standard adrenaline junkie with no fear and a lousy attitude. When the US Government "recruits" him to go on a mission, he's not exactly thrilled. His mission: to gather information on an organization that may just be planning the destruction of the world, led by the nihilistic Yorgi.
Run Time: 2hr 4` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 09 Aug 2002
Director: Hans Berggren , George Parra , Alexander Witt
Producer: Derek Dauchy , Basia Baumann , John T. Sweeney
Stars: Vin Diesel , Asia Argento , Samuel L. Jackson , Leila Arcieri , Marton Csokas , Eve
STRAW (2025)
0 /10
What will be her last straw? A devastatingly bad day pushes a hardworking single mother to the breaking point — and into a shocking act of desperation.
Run Time: 1hr 45` . MMPA: R . Release: 05 Jun 2025
Director: Nicholas Hiles , Kyler Griffin , Derrick Doose
Producer: Carole Wurst , Tyler Perry , Tony Strickland
Stars: Taraji P. Henson , Sherri Shepherd , Teyana Taylor , Sinbad , Rockmond Dunbar , Ashley Versher
A Working Man (2025)
0 /10
Levon Cade left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life working construction. But when his boss's daughter, who is like family to him, is taken by human traffickers, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined.
Run Time: 1hr 56` . MMPA: R . Release: 26 Mar 2025
Director: Tom White , Kaya Frances Moore , Eddie J. Fernandez
Producer: Bill Block , Chris Long , Sylvester Stallone
Stars: Jason Statham , David Harbour , Michael Peña , Jason Flemyng , Arianna Rivas , Noemi Gonzalez
The Accountant² (2025)
0 /10
When an old acquaintance is murdered, Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax, to help. In partnership with Marybeth Medina, they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.
Run Time: 2hr 13` . MMPA: R . Release: 23 Apr 2025
Director: Alina Gatti , Mariela Comitini , Fernando Chien
Producer: Kevin Halloran , Sasha Veneziano , Lynette Howell Taylor
Stars: Ben Affleck , Jon Bernthal , J.K. Simmons , Cynthia Addai-Robinson , Daniella Pineda , Alison Robertson
Deep Cover (2025)
0 /10
Kat is an improv comedy teacher beginning to question if she’s missed her shot at success. When an undercover cop offers her the role of a lifetime, she recruits two of her students to infiltrate London’s gangland by impersonating dangerous criminals.
Run Time: 1hr 39` . MMPA: R . Release: 12 Jun 2025
Director: Kelly Maracin Krieg , Tom Kingsley
Producer: Tim Dennison , Annys Hamilton , Laurie MacDonald
Stars: Bryce Dallas Howard , Orlando Bloom , Sean Bean , Paddy Considine , Ian McShane , Nick Mohammed
Real Gangsters (2013)
7.2 /10
Real Gangsters tells the story of the Lo Giacamo family, one of the most successful crime syndicates in New York City. Run by cousins Vincent Lo Giacamo and Jack Lo Giacamo, Real Gangsters shows how these two men maintain control of their dangerous extended family and volatile business ventures by very different means.
Run Time: 1hr 28` . MMPA: . Release: 01 Jun 2013
Director: Frank D'Angelo
Producer:
Stars: Robert Loggia , John Savage , Steven Bauer , Margot Kidder , Nick Mancuso , Michael Paré
The Unholy Trinity (2025)
0 /10
Set against the turbulent backdrop of 1870s Montana, in the moments before the execution of Isaac Broadway, he gives his estranged son, Henry, an impossible task: murder the man who framed him for a crime he didn’t commit. Intent on fulfilling his promise, Henry travels to the remote town of Trinity, where an unexpected turn of events traps him in town and leaves him caught between Gabriel Dove, the town’s upstanding new sheriff, and a mysterious figure named St. Christopher.
Run Time: 1hr 35` . MMPA: R . Release: 13 Jun 2025
Director: Richard Gray
Producer: Eric Belgau , Cameron Lessard , Michele Davis-Gray
Stars: Brandon Lessard , Pierce Brosnan , Samuel L. Jackson , Q'orianka Kilcher , Tim Daly , Veronica Ferres
Confess, Fletch (2022)
6.5 /10
The roguishly charming and endlessly troublesome Fletch becomes the prime suspect in a murder case while searching for a stolen art collection. The only way to prove his innocence? Find out which of the long list of suspects is the culprit - from the eccentric art dealer and a missing playboy to a crazy neighbor and Fletch’s Italian girlfriend. Crime, in fact, has never been this disorganized.
Run Time: 1hr 39` . MMPA: R . Release: 16 Sep 2022
Director: Giorgio Melidoni , Kenneth Donaldson , Adam Escott
Producer: Bill Block , David List , Betsy Fippinger
Stars: Jon Hamm , Lorenza Izzo , Kyle MacLachlan , Roy Wood Jr. , Ayden Mayeri , Marcia Gay Harden
The Hard Hit (2023)
7.2 /10
An Interpol agent hunting the head of a global crime syndicate tracks his target to Las Vegas, but when the criminal organization kills his wife and daughter, he goes above the law to get his revenge.
Run Time: 1hr 16` . MMPA: NR . Release: 20 Oct 2023
Director: Omie Blue , Darien Smith
Producer: Brian Ronan Mulroy , Darien Smith , Jamie Ohlsen
Stars: Jamie Ohlsen , Trae Ireland , Malachi Durant , Richard T. Jones , Markice Moore , Jerry G. Angelo
10th & Wolf (2006)
6.3 /10
A former street thug returns to his Philadelphia home after a stint in the military. Back on his home turf, he once again finds himself tangling with the mob boss who was instrumental in his going off to be a soldier.
Run Time: 1hr 47` . MMPA: R . Release: 19 Feb 2006
Director: Bobby Moresco
Producer: Joseph D. Murphy , Karen Armstrong , Jeffrey W. Tott
Stars: James Marsden , Giovanni Ribisi , Brad Renfro , Piper Perabo , Dennis Hopper , Brian Dennehy