The Man in the Road

"The Man in the Road" is a British film from 1956 based on the novel of the same name. It concerns a famous scientist who is kidnapped while driving and taken to a country nursing home. When he awakens, he can't remember who he is.

The Communists have taken him and are sending him to Russia. They tell him his name is Ivan Mason, but he just can't make the connection. They keep him hypnotized.

A drunk in the home, either a patient or a doctor, clues him in on what's going on. While walking, he's asked for a ride by a neighbor (Ella Raines) and ends up telling her his story. Needless to say, she's a little nervous around him. There is something about him that's believable, so she investigates.

Derek Farr plays the confused scientist, and the great stage actor Sir Donald Wolfit is the villain. This was Ella Raines' last film. A beautiful woman and always a nice presence in any film. With her hair a little longer, she always reminded me of Gene Tierney. She retired after this. Sadly, like Tierney, she died from a smoking-related disease - in her case, esophageal cancer, in Tierney's, emphysema.

The movie is a little too talky for a suspense film and comes off as being on the slow side. It is recommended though -- these actors all enjoyed prolific careers, so the acting is good, and it's entertaining enough. Communism was a major subject in the late '40s and '50s, and this movie fits right into the genre.