Intent to Kill (1958 film)

Intent to Kill

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1958
Headquarters	Montreal , Canada
Products	Film noir thriller film

Intent to Kill is a 1958 British film noir thriller helmed by director Jack Cardiff, featuring performances by Richard Todd, Betsy Drake, and Herbert Lom. Adapted from the 1957 novel of the same title authored by Brian Moore under the pseudonym Michael Bryan, the movie was filmed on location in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It showcases a diverse cast comprising actors from both Europe and North America.

Plot

Following an assassination attempt, Juan Menda, the leader of an unnamed South American nation, is brought to Montreal under an alias for treatment of a potentially lethal cranial blood clot. Meanwhile, adversaries from his political circle engage Canadian assassins to complete their deadly mission. Francisco, Menda’s assistant who secretly conspires against him, remains close while simultaneously courting Menda’s wife, Carla.

British surgeon Bob McLaurin faces mounting pressure from his discontented wife Margaret to abandon Canada and establish a private cosmetic surgery practice in London to increase their income. Distracted by domestic strife and threats concerning an alleged affair, Bob nearly fails during Menda’s surgery but ultimately succeeds.

As Menda recuperates, he becomes wary of Francisco and Carla’s suspicious conduct, suspecting treachery or conspiracy. After requesting a room change for security reasons, the hired killers mistakenly murder an innocent patient. The police assign Menda a 24-hour guard; however, the assassins’ reckless behavior results in a violent shootout in hospital corridors involving Bob. One assassin is apprehended after falling from a window during a confrontation.

Amid the turmoil, another assassin infiltrates Menda’s unprotected room but discovers Menda ready and awaiting the attack.

Cast

• Richard Todd as Dr Bob McLaurin
• Betsy Drake as Dr Nancy Ferguson
• Herbert Lom as Juan Menda
• Warren Stevens as Finch
• Paul Carpenter as O'Brien
• Alexander Knox as Dr McNeil
• Lisa Gastoni as Carla Menda
• Carlo Giustini as Francisco Flores
• Peter Arne as Kral
• Catherine Boyle (Katie Boyle) as Margaret McLaurin
• John Crawford as Boyd
• Jackie Collins as Carol Freeman
• Kay Callard as Sally Gordon

Production

Richard Todd revealed that his involvement in the film was due to obligations under his Fox contract, describing the project as "a stinker" and likening it to "a melodramatic, unbelievable thriller" similar to a standard television drama. Shot over an eight-week period at Elstree Studios, Todd labeled the film "completely forgettable," admitting he neither viewed the final edit nor remembered its storyline.

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin commended the film for its imaginative direction and suspenseful sequences, although it noted that the surgical scene might prove too intense for certain audiences.

The Radio Times Guide to Films awarded it 2 out of 5 stars, remarking that Jack Cardiff’s debut as director on this Montreal-based B-thriller left critics uncertain about his role.

Leslie Halliwell characterized the film as a "solidly entertaining suspenser."

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959, critic David Quinlan rated it "good," emphasizing its brisk pacing, tension, and surprising plot developments.

See also

• Brian Moore's early fiction

External links

• Intent to Kill listed on the BFI Film & TV Database