White Fire
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
John Gilling
Scott Brady
Mary Castle
John Blythe
Gabrielle Brune
Colin Tapley
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Gregor Stevens, an American officer onboard a cargo ship, arrives in London after a long period at sea to visit his brother Larry, who works as a courier for a travel agency. When Greg visits the agency, he is told by a clerk that Larry's whereabouts are unknown. However, Yvonne Durante, an American customer in the agency, tells Greg that she knows Larry slightly. When Greg becomes aware that he is being followed, he confronts the man, Crawson, who runs off, leaving behind a book of matches from the Gay Mask Club. Greg goes to the club and, after he discovers that Yvonne is a singer there, is approached by owner Mario Sartago, who advises him not to look for Larry as he is in trouble with the police. Yvonne tells Greg to see boxer Dave Leary, who knows Larry well, and Dave reveals that Larry is scheduled to be hanged in three days for the murder of the Gay Mask Club's manager. Greg then talks with Larry's lawyer, Arnold John Winslow, who arranges for him to visit Larry in prison. Greg learns that the manager was part of a diamond smuggling ring in which Larry had become involved, but Larry swears that he is innocent of the killing and was framed. Greg returns to the club and accuses Sartago of framing Larry, but is beaten up by Sartago and his thugs, and arrested by the police. However, Sartago drops the charges and Greg is released, then is almost run down by a speeding car. While Greg is visiting Yvonne's apartment, Lorna Dryhurst, Winslow's secretary, arrives to collect a small package, but Greg takes it and leaves. In an alley, Greg is attacked by Crawson and three thugs, who recover the package. After it is announced that there will be no reprieve for Larry, Greg receives a visit from Yvonne who, after admitting that her father John was smuggling diamonds through the club and was there the night of the murder, tells Greg that she has asked her father to come over from Paris. Later, Greg becomes the victim of a plot to frame him for the murder of Sartago, who is found dead in his office. Greg is now being sought by the police and hides out at Dave's gym, where Yvonne's father tells him that Charley Harris, the head of the travel agency, may be involved. Greg wonders if there is a connection between Harris, Lorna and Yvonne, who is becoming romantically involved with Greg, then goes to the Registrar's office to request information about Lorna's husband. Meanwhile, at the agency, Greg is beating up Harris, when he is stopped by the duplicitous Dave, one of the gang, who knocks Greg out and puts him in Harris' car. Arriving to keep an appointment with Greg, Yvonne sees Harris drive off with him and Dave and follows. In the back seat of the car, Greg recovers and fights Dave, causing the car to crash. Greg escapes and is picked up by Yvonne and they go to look for her father. While Greg is at Winslow's office, John phones from the crowded British Industries Fair, where he is attempting to evade the gang. Winslow appears to phone the police, but is really talking to Crawson, tipping him off as to where he can find John. Meanwhile, Yvonne returns to the registrar and discovers that Lorna is actually married to Winslow, and realizing Greg is in danger, goes to the police. On their way to the exhibition hall, Inspector Haley admits to Yvonne that he knows Greg did not kill Sartago and has been using him to confirm his theory that Crawson committed the crime for which Larry was convicted. At the exhibition, Crawson and his men pick up John and run out to the street, but are caught by the police, who have already arrested Lorna as the head of the smuggling ring. When Winslow attempts to escape he, too, is arrested. Later, onboard his ship, Greg waves goodbye to Larry, who has been released, and then is surprised by Yvonne, who embraces him.
Director
John Gilling
Cast
Scott Brady
Mary Castle
John Blythe
Gabrielle Brune
Colin Tapley
Lloyd Lamble
Julian Somers
Ferdy Mayne
Ballard Berkeley
Ronan O'casey
John Schofield
Paul Erickson
Bill Lowe
Hal Osmond
Dennis Chinnery
Ronald Leigh-hunt
Alastair Hunter
Michael Balfour
Arthur Lovegrove
Harcourt Nicholls
Russell Westwood
Laurie Taylor
Crew
Wilfred Arnold
Robert S. Baker
Monty Berman
Monty Berman
Stanley Black
Stanley Black
George Burgess
Pamela Carlton
Jill Carpenter
Paul Erickson
Paul Erickson
George Fowler
John Gilling
Tony Kelly
Barbara Killalee
Marjorie Saunders
Pauline Trent
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
This film's British release title was Three Steps to the Gallows.
