Bang! You're Dead
Encyclopedia
Bang! You're Dead is a 1954
British psychological film drama, directed by Lance Comfort
and starring Jack Warner
, Anthony Richmond and Sean Barrett
. The film takes as its subject the accidental killing of a man by a child, and the struggles of the child and his companion to comprehend the gravity of what has happened. The Time Out Film Guide describes it as "a strange little film (which) can't make up its mind whether it's a thriller or a piece of social conscience, but the performance of the boy lends it charm."
). Cliff has developed a fascination for guns from films he has seen, regarding them as fun toys with which to play imaginitive games. Willy's main interest is his gramophone record collection.
Cliff discovers an old army revolver left behind at the depot and is thrilled to have found a realistic toy to play with. He and Willy are out together when they come across unpopular local Ben Jones (Philip Saville
). Cliff decides to tease him by threatening him with the gun cowboy-style. When Jones refuses to play along, Cliff pulls the trigger, not realising that the gun is still loaded with live bullets. Jones collapses and the pair at first think he is play-acting, but soon realise that he is dead. They flee the scene in panic.
Jones' body is discovered shortly afterwards by Bob Carter (Michael Medwin), who alerts the local police. However, when investigating detective Gray (Derek Farr
} learns that Carter and Jones had recently been involved in a fight over the attentions of the flirtatious Hilda (Veronica Hurst
), Carter becomes the main suspect and is taken in for questioning. Cliff and Willy become increasingly tormented as they try to weigh up whether it is better to let an innocent man be punished, or to confess to what actually happened and face what they see as the fearful consequences. Meanwhile Grey gradually comes to realise that the case may not be as clear-cut as it first appeared.
1954 in film
The year 1954 in film involved some significant events and memorable ones.-Events:*May 12 - The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces wife Marion Benda...
British psychological film drama, directed by Lance Comfort
Lance Comfort
Lance Comfort was an English film director and producer born in Harrow, London.With a career spanning over 25 years he became one of the most prolific film directors in Britain though never gained critical attention and remained on the fringes of the film industry creating mostly B movies.Comfort...
and starring Jack Warner
Jack Warner (actor)
Jack Warner OBE was an English film and television actor. He is closely associated with the role of PC George Dixon, which he played until the age of eighty....
, Anthony Richmond and Sean Barrett
Sean Barrett (actor)
Seán Barrett is a British actor and voice actor.He began acting as a child appearing on BBC children's television and in films such as Bang! You're Dead, War and Peace, The Genie and Four Sided Triangle.Years later he made many appearances in television and films including ITV Television...
. The film takes as its subject the accidental killing of a man by a child, and the struggles of the child and his companion to comprehend the gravity of what has happened. The Time Out Film Guide describes it as "a strange little film (which) can't make up its mind whether it's a thriller or a piece of social conscience, but the performance of the boy lends it charm."
Plot
Cliff Bonsell (Richmond) lives a solitary life with his widowed father (Warner) in a hut on a decommissioned American army munitions stores depot in rural England. He has few friends, his main companion being the slightly older Willy Maxted (Barrett), a quiet and introverted child who lives nearby with his grandmother (Beatrice VarleyBeatrice Varley
Beatrice Varley was a British actress who appeared in a variety of television and film roles between 1936 and 1964...
). Cliff has developed a fascination for guns from films he has seen, regarding them as fun toys with which to play imaginitive games. Willy's main interest is his gramophone record collection.
Cliff discovers an old army revolver left behind at the depot and is thrilled to have found a realistic toy to play with. He and Willy are out together when they come across unpopular local Ben Jones (Philip Saville
Philip Saville
Philip Saville is a British television direction and screenwriting from the late 1950s...
). Cliff decides to tease him by threatening him with the gun cowboy-style. When Jones refuses to play along, Cliff pulls the trigger, not realising that the gun is still loaded with live bullets. Jones collapses and the pair at first think he is play-acting, but soon realise that he is dead. They flee the scene in panic.
Jones' body is discovered shortly afterwards by Bob Carter (Michael Medwin), who alerts the local police. However, when investigating detective Gray (Derek Farr
Derek Farr
Derrick Capel Farr was a British actor who appeared regularly in British films and television from 1938 until his death in 1986....
} learns that Carter and Jones had recently been involved in a fight over the attentions of the flirtatious Hilda (Veronica Hurst
Veronica Hurst
Veronica Hurst is an English motion picture, stageand television actress who was born in Malta. She was raised in Tooting, South London, England...
), Carter becomes the main suspect and is taken in for questioning. Cliff and Willy become increasingly tormented as they try to weigh up whether it is better to let an innocent man be punished, or to confess to what actually happened and face what they see as the fearful consequences. Meanwhile Grey gradually comes to realise that the case may not be as clear-cut as it first appeared.
Cast
- Jack WarnerJack Warner (actor)Jack Warner OBE was an English film and television actor. He is closely associated with the role of PC George Dixon, which he played until the age of eighty....
as Bonsell - Anthony Richmond as Cliff Bonsell
- Sean BarrettSean Barrett (actor)Seán Barrett is a British actor and voice actor.He began acting as a child appearing on BBC children's television and in films such as Bang! You're Dead, War and Peace, The Genie and Four Sided Triangle.Years later he made many appearances in television and films including ITV Television...
as Willy Maxted - Derek FarrDerek FarrDerrick Capel Farr was a British actor who appeared regularly in British films and television from 1938 until his death in 1986....
as Detective Gray - Veronica HurstVeronica HurstVeronica Hurst is an English motion picture, stageand television actress who was born in Malta. She was raised in Tooting, South London, England...
as Hilda - Michael Medwin as Bob Carter
- Gordon HarkerGordon HarkerGordon Harker was an English film actor. He appeared in 68 films between 1921 and 1959, including three films directed by Alfred Hitchcock and a cameo appearance in Elstree Calling , a revue film co-directed by Hitchcock...
as Mr. Hare - Beatrice VarleyBeatrice VarleyBeatrice Varley was a British actress who appeared in a variety of television and film roles between 1936 and 1964...
as Mrs. Maxted - Philip SavillePhilip SavillePhilip Saville is a British television direction and screenwriting from the late 1950s...
as Ben Jones - John WarwickJohn WarwickJohn Warwick was an Australian film and television actor.-Selected filmography:* On Our Selection * In the Wake of the Bounty * The Squatter's Daughter * Riding High...
as Sgt. Gurney - Toke TownleyToke TownleyToke Antony Townley, born 6 November 1912 in Great Dunmow, died 27 September 1984 in Leeds, was an English actor.-Biography:His father was a vicar and he was christened John Townley, but his first name was then changed by his parents to the surname of an ancestor. After he left school he worked as...
as Jimmy Knuckle
External links
- Bang! You're Dead at BFI Film & TV Database
- Bang! You're Dead at BritMovie