Escape Route (film)

An American, Steve Rossi, enters Britain by slipping past immigration at Heathrow Airport, leading to a national manhunt by the police. He is finally intercepted by Joan Miller, an MI5 agent, who takes him to her superiors. Rossi reveals himself to be an FBI agent posing as a nuclear scientist in an attempt to infiltrate a gang kidnapping western scientists and taking them across the Iron Curtain. His contact in London is a man named Michael Grand who has recently arranged the kidnap of an American. With MI5's assistance, Rossi monitors Grand and arranges a meeting with him. Growing increasingly suspicious of Rossi, Grand and his organisation make several attempts to kill him.

• George Raft as Steve Rossi
• Sally Gray as Joan Miller
• Clifford Evans as Michael Grand
• Frederick Piper as Inspector Reid
• Reginald Tate as Colonel Wilkes
• Patricia Laffan as Irma Brookes
• June Ashley as Beauty Shop Attendant
• John Warwick as Security Chief Brice
• Roddy Hughes as Porter
• Grace Arnold as Neighbour
• Cyril Chamberlain as Bailey
• Howard Douglas as Taxi Driver
• Arthur Lovegrove as Phillips
• Anthony Pendrell as Rees
• Norman Pierce as Inspector Hobbs
• Harry Towb as Immigration Officer

It was made at Walton Studios and on location around London, mostly in the City of London, at a time when there was still much bomb damage from the Second World War.[4] American actress Coleen Gray was reported to have been cast opposite Raft, but the role was eventually played by the English star Sally Gray. It was one of several films made by British companies in connection with the low-budget American outfit Lippert Pictures, which distributed the film in the United States. It was made on a larger budget than most Lippert releases.

The Los Angeles Times said the film was "so mysterious" the filmmakers "almost succeeded in keeping the story to themselves."[5]

• Aaker, Everett. George Raft: The Films. McFarland, 2013.

• Escape Route at IMDb
• Review at Variety