United Kingdom / May 28, 1958
He had the life expectancy of a match.
2h 14min
Overall average
5.0/10
Plot
In wartime England, circa 1941, poorly-armed tugs are sent into "U-Boat Alley" to rescue damaged Allied ships. An American named David Ross arrives to captain one of these tugs. He's given a key by a fellow tugboat-man -- a key to an apartment and its pretty female resident. Should something happen to the friend, Ross can use the key.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Bryan Forbes | Weaver |
| Beatrix Lehmann | Housekeeper |
| Rupert Davies | Baker |
| Russell Waters | Sparks |
| Sidney Vivian | Grogan |
| Irene Handl | Clerk |
| John Crawford | American Captain |
| Jameson Clark | English Captain |
| Guy Standeven | Policeman (uncredited) |
| Keith Faulkner | Signalman (uncredited) |
| Michael Caine | Seaman (uncredited) |
| Bart Allison | Seaman on W88 (uncredited) |
| Belita | Canteen Hostess (uncredited) |
| Pauline Chamberlain | Woman Dancing at Forces Centre (uncredited) |
| Keith Faulkner | Seaman on W88 (uncredited) |
| Renée Houston | Canteen Worker (uncredited) |
| Richard Neller | Officer in Operations Room (uncredited) |
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| Ernie Rice | Officer in Operations Room (uncredited) |
| Robert Rietti | Dubbing (voice) (uncredited) |
| John Tatham | Salvage Unit Captain (uncredited) |
| Reg Thomason | Soldier at Dance (uncredited) |
Genres
DramaRomanceWar
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Key |
| Original language | English (EN) |
| Spoken languages | English |
| Production countries | United Kingdom |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Highroad, Open Road Films |
| Release date | 28 maggio 1958 |
| Production | Aubrey Baring, Carl Foreman |
| Writer | Carl Foreman, Jan de Hartog |
| Editing | Bert Bates |
| Cinematography | Oswald Morris |
| Assistant directors | Carol Reed |
| Camera operators | Oswald Morris |
| Additional photography | Oswald Morris |
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| Production design | Wilfred Shingleton, Geoffrey Drake |
| Art direction | Geoffrey Drake, Wilfred Shingleton |
| Set decoration | Wilfred Shingleton, Geoffrey Drake |
| Music | Malcolm Arnold |
| Sound | Malcolm Arnold |
| Costume design | Beatrice Dawson |
| Makeup | Beatrice Dawson |
| Hairstyling | Beatrice Dawson |
Release dates
Theatrical release
United States / Jul 01, 1958 / NR
Germany / Sep 23, 1958 / 12
France / Oct 01, 1958 / U
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Brazil / Jan 01, 1959 / 14
Portugal / Jan 02, 1959 / e 14
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