Leofwine_draca Top thrills from writer/director John Gilling come to us courtesy of this black and white British crime thriller, which features a nicely-tuned leading performance from character actor Anthony Quayle, a man who never disappoints with his mannered and focused acting style. Quayle plays a mild-mannered family man who gets involved with an unlikely femme fatale and a gang of robbers and is involved in a violent heist. He escapes with the loot and manages to bury it, but somebody calls the police and he's sent off to jail for eight years.The story picks up on his release, where he finds the gang are desperate to lay their hands on the loot and will do anything to facilitate that end. The story goes from there. What's immediately apparent is that THE CHALLENGE is a very good film of its type, certainly much better than the earlier efforts directed by Gilling which suffered from tiny budgets. THE CHALLENGE has more money put into it and it shows, with plentiful action and lots of different locations, both indoor and out.Unfortunately it appears that a number of reviewers have condemned this film as a cheap piece of derivative trash. They appear to have watched the movie as it contains an early role for American starlet Jayne Mansfield, but in their condemnation they don't have anything to compare the film with. You can't contrast this type of movie with the big budget American film noir flicks or even French classics like RIFIFI; of course it's going to look inferior, but trust me, THE CHALLENGE is a strong entry in its genre.It's fair to say that Mansfield is pretty unconvincing as the femme fatale/gangster's moll in this film, although as ever her figure is quite arresting. The silly wig she wears for part of the running time is quite distracting. Still, the supporting cast are fine: Carl Mohner is frightening as the ruthless thug; Dermot Walsh gets to be on the right side of the law for once; Percy Herbert has a wonderful little turn as a boozy worker; Barbara Mullen is memorable as the stressed-out mother in law; and Edward Judd makes his impact as the two-fisted cop. THE CHALLENGE fills its running time with many suspenseful moments, a taut premise (particularly in the second half), fine action, and great twists. I really liked it.

naseby Strange Brit film-noir, in the sense Jayne Mansfield is playing a gang leader (and not even the moll). Anthony Quayle, playing out of character, (Jim) (if you 'don't' include 'Ice Cold in Alex, where he makes good anyway/let off). Simply said, Mansfield's 'Billie' character, sets up her then lover (Quayle) into taking part in a robbery. Carl Mohne as 'Kristy' her 'real'(?) lover, 'makes a phone call to the police to land Jim in it, but it looks like it still had Billie's blessing to land Quayle in it too??? Although the strange thing is, she's left Jim to hide the money without anyone knowing, (including her, where he stashed it). Kristy, thinking she DOES know, is hanging around. Meanwhile, Jim takes the rap because of the 'phone call, does his stretch and is released. However, all in the meantime Billie and the gang, have done numerous robberies whilst Jim was inside. This I don't really get, as Mansfield/Billie didn't know/locate the money from the first robbery with Jim, carries on robbing in the meantime. It's not as if she had Jim's money and was going to use it to finance jobs. On Jim's release, Mansfield and the gang want the money from the first job, Jim of course rebels/refuses for taking the rap - it's not long before the gang decide or rather Kristy does, to kidnap Jim's son, Joey (typical 60's name) in return in trying to get him to blab.Mansfield though is not warmed to the idea of harming or even taking Joey, as Kristy is a psychopath. This is where the film adds a bit more tension in the overall plot of finding Joey, who's in the hands of one of the gang, who's happy to kill joey if Jim isn't forthcoming wit the loot.Edward Judd plays a good role as the Inspector after both Mansfield's gang and all the loot from all the robberies as well as trying to wrest Joey from Kristy's minions.Predictable kind of turns with cops and robbers etc., with some fair action/fighting and tension. It has to be said Quayle played a great role and very well. Mansfield, on the other hand also predictably still plays a dumb blonde role too much like Marilyn Monroe, spoiling it, though for me and the film. She does a good about-face with Mohne's character realising he's a dangerous psycho though. One thing, there's a plot part of the loot being buried and then found to have later, explosives covering it - Jim goes to find it surprised of course, but what's more surprising is the fact the explosives are left out in the open/unguarded!!!

Spudling2 ...so did Mansfield star with another noted Shakespearean actor, Anthony Quayle. The difference being that Mansfield was never the star that Monroe was,and Quayle was just a jobbing actor in films, and the production accorded them was a cheapie. Actually, for the first part of this, with Mansfield hiding beneath a brunette wig, she is not bad, but back to blonde for the last half of the film she resorts to her usual simpering. The picture and sound quality of the CD is so bad, I could not even take my usual pleasure in this sort of film of enjoying the cast of familiar faces. The credits said Percy Herbert was in there somewhere, but I didn't see him.

hilljayne This is a very well acted British film starring superstar Jayne Mansfield and highly respected actor Anthony Quayle. The film begins as Jayne plays a ruthless villianness type woman who gets her kicks robbing banks and jewelry stores and such. She enlists the help of lover Quayle only he gets caught but doesn't rat out Jayne or her gang of thugs. While Quayle's character is in prison, Jayne continues the heists and eventually opens a club. Quayle gets out and beautiful Jaynie looks him up wanting the money he hid before he got caught. Eventually as Quayle refuses to help Jayne and the gang her thugs kidnap his son and chaos ensues. As you view the film you'll forget you are watching a shoddy copy of the tape. My tape is from one of those quickie $5.99 companies called EPI Entertainment Programs. Fans of Jayne Mansfield positively MUST have this in their collection as her performance totally dismisses the naysayers and she acts superbly. Yes I am a fan but I can still honestly say her acting is A+ in this. Many times people don't get past her beautiful face or incredible super figure and forget about her acting which totally shines in this. I also liked Barbara Mullen as Quayle's nervous wreck of a mother. Jayne and Anthony also have a lot of chemistry together. And we are treated to a lovely musical number by Jayne wearing a stunning and incredibly tight evening gown. A must see! I only hope this will be remastered and released to DVD ASAP!