Soho Incident

Soho Incident, released in the United States as Spin a Dark Web, is a 1956 British film noir directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Faith Domergue and Lee Patterson.^[1] The screenplay by Ian Stuart Black is based on the 1937 novel Wide Boys Never Work by Robert Westerby.

Soho Incident
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Vernon Sewell
Screenplay by	Ian Stuart Black
Based on	Robert Westerby (based on the novel) ("Wide Boys Never Work")
Produced by	M. J. Frankovich George Maynard
Starring	Faith Domergue Lee Patterson
Cinematography	Basil Emmott
Edited by	Peter Rolfe Johnson
Music by	Robert Sharples
Production company	Frankovich Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release dates	March 1956 (1956-03) (United Kingdom) October 1956 (1956-10) (United States)
Running time	77 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

Jim Bankley a Canadian veteran living in London, is trying without much luck to succeed as a prizefighter. Through an old army buddy, he meets and begins working for the local Sicilian mob leader Rico Francesi. Bankley falls in love with Rico's sister, the vile Bella Francesi; she soon draws him deeper into the gang's activities. When he finds himself pulled into a murder plot, he finally realizes that his lover is only using him and determines to escape the gang – but things are extremely complicated.

Cast

• Faith Domergue as Bella Francesi
• Lee Patterson as Jim Bankley
• Rona Anderson as Betty Walker
• Martin Benson as Rico Francesi
• Robert Arden as Buddy
• Joss Ambler as Tom Walker
• Peter Hammond as Bill Walker
• Peter Burton as Inspector Collis
• Sam Kydd as Sam
• Russell Westwood as Mick
• Patricia Ryan as Audrey
• Bernard Fox as McLeod

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A competent and fast-moving gang film, with some excellent location glimpses of Soho by night and day."^[2]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Standard thriller of fair pace and good backgrounds."^[3]