Gaol Break

Gaol Break
Elliot Mason and Ralph Ince in the film[1]
Directed byRalph Ince
Written byMichael Barringer
Produced byIrving Asher
Starring
CinematographyBasil Emmott
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Brothers
Release date
  • March 1936 (1936-03)
Running time
64 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Gaol Break (also known as Gaolbreak and Bill and Son [2]) is a lost 1936 British crime film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Ince, Basil Gill and Raymond Lovell.[2] It was written by Michael Barringer and made as a quota quickie at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.[3]

Preservation status

The British Film Institute has classed Gaol Break as a lost film.[1] Its National Archive holds a collection of stills but no film or video materials.[2]

Plot

Jim Oakley breaks out of prison to visit his small son Mickie, who is in the care of a trio of crooks. He discovers that the crooks are planning to convince a wealthy American couple, the Kendalls, that Mickie is their kidnapped child. Following the villains to the Kendalls' luxury yacht, he sees that Mr Kendall has become attached to Mickie and has accepted him as his own child. Jim realises that the Americans can give Mickie a far better life than he ever can, and lets them take him.

Cast

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Ralph Ince as Jim is a rough diamond with an understandable urge to risk anything for Mickie's sake and Elliot Mason, as Euphy, the barge owner, is a joy every time she opens her mouth. The settings are realistic. A film out of the usual run."[4]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Popular sentiment is likely to be gripped by an unusual story of child kidnapping, the underworld, and a father's self-sacrifice for his boy. Production values vary, but some imaginative and gripping sequences, the performance of Ralph Ince in one of his virile roles, and that of a very natural youngster combine to make a worth-while offer. ... Ralph Ince, in the full-blooded role of gaol-bird, puts up a natural and convincing performance. ... Sequences dealing in turn with the action of the crooks, the parents of a kidnapped child, the police adi the child's father are apt to result in a jerky continuity. Nevertheless each scene reveals economy of dialogue, combined with action and good local colour."[5]

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Ably directed, contains fair supply of action, interesting performance by child actor and outstanding portrayal by Elliot Mason as sharp-tongued but warm-hearted barge owner. Thames-side and prison settings back subject, which should make acceptable booking of popular calibre."[6]

Picturegoer wrote: "Ralph Ince gives a spirited and sympathetic performance as Jim, Basil Gill is polished as a doctor and little Pat Fitzpatrick proves that clever child actors are by no means an American monopoly."[7]

Picture Show wrote: "Sincerely told and acted drama ... The sympathetic handling of the story never descends to mawkishness, and there is no lack of action. Entertaining."[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Eyles, Allen; Meeker, David, eds. (1992). "Gaol Break". Missing Believed Lost: The Great British Film Search. British Film Institute. pp. 64–65. ISBN 0851703062.
  2. ^ a b c "Gaol Break". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  3. ^ Wood, Linda (1986). British Films, 1927–1939 (PDF). British Film Institute. p. 86. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Gaol Break". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 3 (25): 41. 1 January 1936. ProQuest 1305798564.
  5. ^ "Gaol Break". Kine Weekly. 229 (1507): 28. 5 March 1936. ProQuest 2338395426.
  6. ^ "Gaol Break". The Daily Film Renter (2798): 6. 4 March 1936. ProQuest 3127108576.
  7. ^ "Gaol Break". Picturegoer. 6: 24. 5 August 1936. ProQuest 1771205719.
  8. ^ "Gaol Break". Picture Show. 35 (905): 25. 5 September 1936. ProQuest 1880319590.
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