Cage of Gold (1950)
7/10
Good UK noir
31 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This watch-able noir from the U.K. stars a young and rather striking looking Jean Simmons. Also in the cast are James Donald, David Farrar, Bernard Lee, Herbert Lom and Madeleine Lebeau.

Simmons and her doctor, James Donald, are having a romance and marriage seems in their future. That ends when an old friend of Simmons parents shows.

David Farrar, a smuggler and all round cad, sweet talks Simmons who swallows his line hook and sinker. Farrar is really after the family money. On their wedding night, he discovers that there is no cash. Simmons family is broke. The next morning, Farrar disappears with what little cash and jewels Simmons had. Simmons realizes Farrar was just after money and has a good cry.

A couple of months go by and Simmons knows the break is not complete. Their one night together has put a bun in the oven. She goes back to Donald who takes her back.

While this is going on, we find out Farrar is in Paris back with his old flame Madeleine Lebeau. Lebeau and her partner, Herbert Lom, run a smuggling racket out of a Paris nightclub. Jewels to Tangier, cash to the States, cigs to the UK and so on. Farrar and Lebeau take up again.

Several years later Simmons hears that Farrar was killed in a plane crash. Donald, who has been taking care of Simmons and her son, now marries her. Life is good and Donald moves up the social and money scale.

Needless to say that reports of Farrar's death were somewhat premature. He is quite alive. He had sold his passport to another smuggler who had the bad luck to be in the plane crash.

Farrar has been up to his old ways and has been stepping out on Lebeau. He has latched onto the daughter of a wealthy banker. When he approaches the banker about a "loan" to leave the daughter alone. Farrar finds he has overplayed his hand. The banker calls the Police instead.

Ever quick on his feet, he bolts back to the UK. Once there, he pays a visit to Simmons. Needless to say she is shocked to find the low-life Farrar still upright. Farrar suggests that the last thing Donald would want is a scandal, what with his upscale practice etc. Farrar feels that a trip to South America is what he needs. Some cash would help. He gives her 24 hours to discuss it with Donald.

Simmons does not tell Donald about Farrar's visit. She does not want to involve him further in her mess. The next night, she takes Donald's automatic to the meeting with Farrar.

Farrar lets her in and asks how much did she bring. Simmons tells him he can have all "she" has, 200 pounds. Farrar laughs, a couple more zeros would be more like it he comments.

Farrar guesses that Simmons never told Donald about the visit. He grabs the phone and calls Donald at his office. "I'm here with your wife". Says Farrar. He gives Donald the address of the flat.

Farrar turns back to Simmons and his eyes open wide. Simmons has pulled the pistol and has it pointed at his gut.

Farrar tells Simmons, "Could you live with the fact that you killed?" Simmons starts to cry and faints. When she comes to, Farrar is dead on the floor and her pistol is beside him. She flees down the stairs and out into the street. Just then, Donald pulls up. He tells Simmons to wait and goes to Farrar's room.

He sees the stiff and begins to wipe the place down of fingerprints. He is just pocketing the automatic when the Police show. Down to the station the two go.

Simmons swears she killed Farrar while Donald says it was he who killed the blackmailing swine. The detective, Bernard Lee, listens to both and shakes his head. He knows that both are lying. The beat cop had heard the shot and responded. He had seen another woman leave just before Simmons came out, and Donald, arrived.

We now find out Lebeau had tracked down Farrar. She had entered the room as Simmons fainted. Farrar had bent over to look at her. Lebeau, seeing the two together, had picked up the pistol and dispatched Farrar.

Lee puts out the word to stop the train to Dover and arrest her. Lebeau saves them the trouble by jumping from the moving train to her death. Lee gets the phone call about Lebeau and sends Simmons and Donald home. Problem solved.
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