Booby Trap is a 1957 black and white British comedy drama 'B' film, directed by Henry Cass and starring Tony Quinn, Harry Fowler and Sidney Tafler.
Plot
Professor Hasdane has invented an explosive fountain pen, which will explode if it hears the first chime of Big Ben. The absent-minded professor leaves his briefcase, containing the pen, in a taxi. The next customer in the taxi, Sammy the spiv, takes the case. He pawns the pen. Sammy and Hasdane subsequently trace the pen to a seedy club operated by narcotics gangster Hunter, who distributes his drugs in mock fountain pens. Hunter unwittingly mixes up the Professor's pen with his own pens, and escapes pursued by the police. His car explodes when Big Ben chimes over the car radio.
Cast
Tony Quinn as Professor Hasdane
Harry Fowler as Sammy
Sydney Tafler as Mr. Hunter
Patti Morgan as Jackie
Jacques Cey as Bentley
Richard Shaw as Paul Richards
Crititical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A lively, if juvenile, idea is sacrificed after the opening scenes, promising a suspense which never materialises. The development of this uninspired thriller is thin, the characters are pasteboard and the production is sparing."
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as “average” and wrote: “Bright comedy thriller, fast and amusing, misses on the thrills.''
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "This dire British B-feature was barely seen when it first came out. [...] The build-up is feeble and none of the characters engage one's interest."