User Reviews

A widowed American businessman learns his son has been kidnapped in broad daylight in writer & director Terry Bishop's "The Unstoppable Man," based on Michael Francis Gilbert's novel "Amateur in Violence." James Kennedy (Cameron Mitchell of "Garden of Evil") is stunned by this catastrophic revelation, but he maintains his cool and calmly treats this unfortunate affair as if it were a business deal. First, Kennedy pays the kidnappers double what they have demanded for his son. Second, our protagonist appears on a British television program to address the issue of his son's abduction. The kidnappers are a grim, humorless bunch, but they keep their hands off Kennedy's son. The worse thing they do to the tyke is shake him up a little. Clocking in at a little over an hour, "The Unstoppable Man" focuses on Kennedy as he mobilizes his office staff and uses them to deliver the ransom money. Kennedy argues that his employees look far less like the police than the trench-coated mob at Scotland Yard. Although he bows to Kennedy's wishes, Inspector Hazelrigg ( Marius Goring of "The 25th Hour") isn't keen on Kennedy's plans. First, Kennedy wants nothing to do with Scotland Yard as he made clear earlier during his on-camera television interview. Mind you, Hazelrigg informs Kennedy of the finer points of the law when he warns him that he is breaking the law because he refuses to cooperate with the cops! Second, despite the appearance of being aloof from the Yard, Kennedy keeps Hazelrigg apprised of his strategy and the moves of his employees. Hazelrigg confides in Kennedy that he believes the child is still being held in London. Eventually, Scotland Yard with the help of Kennedy's employees locate the place where the kidnappers have stashed Kennedy's son. Shrewdly, Kennedy provided the kidnappers with more money than they sought and this creates tension among them when one of his henchmen refuses to tell Feist about the additional funds. Finally, during a showdown near the end, Kennedy brings the additional funds to the rendezvous. Director Terry Bishop keeps the action clicking along and he has a robust cast that bring considerable gravity to the action. Cameron Mitchell delivers a subdued performance as the doting father who will nothing stand in his way in his efforts to save his son. As the chief villain, Harry H. Corbett of "Steptoe & Son" fame is strictly business. While she doesn't garner a lot of screen time, Lois Maxwell-the future Ms. Moneypenny of the 007 epics, plays Kennedy's sister Helen. She was with her brother's son when the kidnappers struck and bundled the lad off in a taxi. The biggest mistake the kidnappers make is not keep the adolescent blindfolded. Since he can identify them, these kidnappers don't stand a chance in court. James Kennedy lives up to the title of the film. He never stops. Most of the action takes place in office buildings, residences, and at Scotland Yard. The finale when Feist and Kennedy meet is cool. This low budget but trimly helmed feature is an example of meticulous craftsmanship.

Yes, you may think of RANSOM, both 56 and 97 films, starring Glenn Ford for the first and Mel Gibson for the second. Cameron Mitchell plays here an American business in UK, a widower raising his son alone. And this very son is kidnapped. Mitchell's character is of course wealthy. And he doesn't want the police to interfere with the ransom delivery to the abductors. He doesn't want to jeopardize his son's life. He decides on the other way to take care alone of this affair. The following is predictable. Not a bad film, just entertaining enough to keep you awake. But nothing really exceptional here. A rare film, as I can see; no comment for it.