Fate Takes a Hand

Fate Takes a Hand is a 1961 British anthology drama film directed by Max Varnel and starring Ronald Howard and Christina Gregg.^[1] It was written by Brian Clemens and produced by The Danzigers.

Fate Takes a Hand
Australian 1-sheet poster
Directed by	Max Varnel
Written by	Brian Clemens
Produced by	The Danzigers
Starring	Ronald Howard Christina Gregg
Cinematography	Jimmy Wilson
Edited by	Spencer Reeve
Production company	Danziger Productions Ltd.
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	February 1962 (1962-02) (UK)
Running time	72 min.
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

The recovery of a post bag stolen in a robbery fifteen years earlier has varying consequences for the lives of five of the recipients of the letters when the Post Office decides that the post should be delivered. Several lives are changed, as witnessed by a newspaper reporter and a Post Office security guard who follow up on several of the letters.

Cast

• Ronald Howard as Tony
• Christina Gregg as Karon
• Basil Dignam as Wheeler
• Willoughby Goddard as Rollenshaw
• Jack Watson as Bulldog
• Peter Butterworth as Ronnie
• Mary Laura Wood as Sandra
• Noel Trevarthen as Bob
• Sheila Whittingham as Jenny
• Michael Peake as Ross
• Laidman Browne as Maxwell
• Derek Blomfield as Briggs
• Valerie Gearon as Peggy
• Valentine Dyall as Wilson
• John Gabriel as Matt Little
• Brian Cobby as Mark
• Peter Swanwick as Preeny
• Bruce Beeby as Inspector Phillips
• Arnold Bell as Finch
• Michael Anthony as Fuller
• Carl Duering as Mike
• Liza Page as Lola
• Reginald Hearne as warder
• Peter Bennett as Max
• Angela Douglas as secretary
• Robert Webber as Wayne
• Eric Dodson as janitor
• Gilda Emmanueli as Sally
• Larry Noble as tough
• Andrew Kane as young boxer
• Martin Wyldeck as doctor

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Extravagantly unlikely omnibus film made up of five widely assorted vignettes with twist endings. The script is pat and the production values unremarkable, but the blend of comedy, drama and sentiment is bearable in an ingenuous kind of way."^[2]

AllMovie called it "a throwback to the British "portmanteau" films of the 1950s."^[3]

TV Guide gave the film two out of four stars, and writes that "the effect of the late letters' delivery to the recipients makes for five delightful little tales. Good performances all the way around."^[4]