Soho Conspiracy
1950 British film by Cecil H. Williamson
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Soho Conspiracy is a 1950 British 'B'[1] musical drama film directed by Cecil H. Williamson and starring Jacques Labrecque, Zena Marshall and Peter Gawthorne.[2] It was written by Ralph Dawson, Williamson, Mario Monicelli and Stefano Vanzina.
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Jacques Labrecque
Peter Gawthorne
John Witty
| Soho Conspiracy | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | Cecil H. Williamson |
| Written by | Ralph Dawson Cecil H. Williamson Mario Monicelli Stefano Vanzina |
| Produced by | Edwin J. Fancey |
| Starring | Zena Marshall Jacques Labrecque Peter Gawthorne John Witty |
| Cinematography | Ray Densham |
| Music by | Felice Montagnini |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | DUK |
Release date |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Premise
A young man attempts to stage a charity concert in order to raise funds to refurbish a Soho church.
Production
The film incorporates footage from the 1948 Italian film Mad About Opera (Follie per l'opera) for the climactic concert performance.[1]
Cast
- Zena Marshall as Dora
- Jacques Labrecque as Carlo Scala
- Peter Gawthorne as Father Shaney
- John Witty as Guy
- Max Harrison as Gondotti brother
- Syd Harrison as Gondotti brother
- Gino Bechi as himself
- Beniamino Gigli as himself
- Tito Gobbi as himself
- Tito Schipa as himself
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Gay but amateurish film, whose main virtue is the singing by the Italian stars; this, however, appears to have been contrived by the wholesale lifting of excerpts from other (unnamed) films."[3]
The Daily Film Renter wrote: "A curious mixture, lavishly produced, of melodrama and slapstick, in which the comedy is more easily followed than the story itself."[4]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Cut-price film 'borrows' wholesale from earlier movies for its distinguished 'guest stars'"[5]