ianlouisiana Review of Never Let Go

Never Let Go (1960)

No terrapins were harmed during the making of this movie

[5/10 · 21 January 2006]

This is a Richard Todd film in all but name,and it is he who gives the central performance.He exhibits all those laughably old-fashioned virtues of decency,honesty,hard work,loyalty and determination he once epitomised on the screen.He plays a travelling salesman(how archaic that term sounds now) whose car is stolen.Faced with police indifference,and pressures from work and home,Mr Todd sets out to track down the thieves and recover his property.Standard B flat run-of the-mill second feature material redeemed by Mr Todd who gives the role a depth and dignity that shines through like a good deed on a murky day.Miss Elizabeth Sellars as his wife,and Adam Faith as the car thief give adequate support,but it is with Mr Peter Sellers as the gang boss that "Never let go" runs into serious difficulties.Mr Sellers was arguably the biggest name in British show business at that time,a brilliant mimic,a fine comic actor,and a man with a burgeoning film career to whom international stardom was beckoning.As clever and versatile as he was,I'm afraid his talents didn't extend to portraying serious villainy.He sneers,he snarls,he shouts,he sweats,but he doesn't convince.Only when he stamps on some pet terrapins does he gain attention,and that only temporary.Only once in his whole career was he as badly miscast,as Chance the gardener in "Being there",another movie that is regularly overpraised at the expense of genuine tours de force like "Only two can play" and ""I'm all right Jack".If "Never let go" was to be made today the credits would have to include "No terrapins were harmed during the making of this movie". And no doubt a 1st and 2nd terrapin wrangler would get a mention too.