Stock Car

Don't let the title put you off. The stock cars are the least interesting things about this lively Butchers quickie with it's tongue in it's cheek, a sprinkling of American-style violence and the usual amazing supporting cast (Frank Thornton shares one scene with silent star Alma Taylor), with the usual quota of glamorous and capable fifties females (including nightclub singer Lorrae Desmond and Sabrina, the latter receiving an 'introducing' credit as 'Trixie').

Paul Whitsun Jones as Mr Big has the charm of Bob Hoskins in 'The Long Good Friday' and the table manners of Michael Gambon in 'The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover', with Susan Shaw a more than adequate substitute for Helen Mirren as his classy blonde mistress. (Patrick Jordan, who plays one of his henchmen, died earlier this year at the age of 96, which brings home to you just how long ago this all was.)