''The Master Plan'' is a 1954 British

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

drama film directed by Cy Endfield and starring

Norman Wooland Norman Wooland (16 March 19053 April 1989) was an English character actor who appeared in many major films, including several Shakespearean adaptations. Wooland was born in Düsseldorf, Germany to British parents. During the Second World War he ...

Tilda Thamar Tilda Thamar (born Matilde Sofía Margarita Abrecht; 7 December 1921 – 12 April 1989) was an Argentine actor. She was born in Entre Rios Province, Argentina, in 1921. She was married to Spanish portrait painter Alejo Vidal-Quadras and divorced ...

and Wayne Morris. It is set at the headquarters of NATO. Based on a teleplay ''Operation North Star'' by Harald Bratt, it was produced as a second feature. It was made at

Southall Studios Southall Studios was a film studio located in Southall, Middlesex (now west London) which operated between 1924 and 1958. The studio was constructed on the site of a former aircraft hangar by the silent film director and producer G.B. Samuelson. ...

with sets designed by the

art director Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film industry, film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and ...

Scott MacGregor.

Plot

Following the Second World War, an American army officer stationed in West Germany is assigned with keeping classified information away from the Communists. Unfortunately, enemy agents know that he suffers from sudden black-outs and use this to hypnotise him, and make it appear that he is a traitor.

Cast

as Colonel Mark Cleaver *

as Helen Quaid * Wayne Morris as Major Thomas Brent *

Mary Mackenzie Mary Mackenzie (3 May 1922 – 20 September 1966) was an English actress. One of her earliest credited TV roles was in 1950 on BBC's ''Sunday Night Theatre'', as Miriam in an adaptation of H. G. Wells' ''The History of Mr Polly'', a role she r ...

as Miss Gray *

Arnold Bell Arnold Bell (23 May 1901 – 12 March 1988) was a British actor. Selected filmography * ''Convict 99'' (1919) - Warder Gannawy * '' Doctor Josser K.C.'' (1931) * '' Josser in the Army'' (1932) - Becker * ''Doss House'' (1933) - Reporter * '' ...

as General Harry Goulding * Marjorie Stewart as Yvonne Goulding * Laurie Main as Johnny Orwell *

Frederick Schrecker Frederick Schrecker (10 January 1892 – 13 July 1976) was an Austrian actor, who appeared on stage, screen and film in his home country and the United Kingdom. Beginning his career on stage, Schrecker went on to feature in German films "Der Fel ...

as Doctor Morganstern * Richard Marner as Man * Alan Tilvern as Otto Szimek * Lucienne Hill as Kathleen Steffanson * John Gabriel as Dr. Horn

Critical reception

'' TV Guide'' wrote, "the intriguing story suffers from inefficient production techniques."

References

Bibliography

* Chibnall, Steve & McFarlane, Brian. ''The British 'B' Film''. Palgrave MacMillan, 2009.

External links

* 1954 films 1954 drama films Films directed by Cy Endfield British drama films Films shot at Southall Studios 1950s English-language films British black-and-white films 1950s British films {{1950s-UK-film-stub