Little Red Monkey
Little Red Monkey is a 1955 British thriller film directed by Ken Hughes and starring Richard Conte, Rona Anderson and Russell Napier. Detectives from Scotland Yard investigate a series of murders of leading nuclear scientists, and are intrigued by strange reports received about the crimes. The film was released in the United States by Allied Artists as The Case of the Red Monkey. The film was an international hit, and along with Confession (1955) proved a breakthrough for Anglo-Amalgamated. After its success the company began making more expensive productions, often hiring American stars for international appeal. Cast

 Richard Conte as Bill Locklin
 Rona Anderson as Julia Jackson
 Russell Napier as Superintendent John Harrington
 Sylva Langova as Hilde Heller, chief spy
 Colin Gordon as Harry Martin, reporter
 Donald Bisset as Editor Harris
 John King-Kelly as Spy Henchman
 Bernard Rebel as Vinson – Spy Henchman
 Arnold Marlé as Professor Leon Dushenko
 John Horsley as Detective Sergeant Gibson
 Jane Welsh as Superintendent McCollum
 Theodore Wilhelm as Secretary of the International Social Club
 Colin Tapley as Sir Clive Raglan
 Noel Johnson as Detective Sergeant Hawkins
 Jessica Kearns as Airport Hostess
 Geoffrey Denys as Doctor Mayhew
 Gianfranco Parolini as Inspector May
 Guy Deghy as Social Club Recreation Director
 Peter Godsell as Tommy McCollum
 Ed Devereaux as American Sailor 
 George Margo as American Sailor
 André Mikhelson as East German Chief of Border Guards 
 Tony Sympson as Cab Driver

Production
The film was based on a 1953 BBC Television series of the same name, written by Eric Maschwitz and produced by Bill Lyon-Shaw, which ran for six 30-minute episodes. It was made by Anglo-Amalgamated at Merton Park Studios, a co-production with Anglo Guild. Critical reception
A contemporary review in The Monthly Film Bulletin said: "Some efficient photography and editing eke out the meagre excitements". Variety wrote: “Like many British-produced pictures, it lacks American-type pace and is a routine entry in the program market. Conte portrays a U.S. State Dept. officer [...] but displays little of the dash and ingenuity such a part calls for." In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as “average” and wrote: “Conte and direction a cut above the rest in this moderately exciting thriller". The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "Ken Hughes honed his skills as a director of thrillers working on the Scotland Yard B-movie series. Consequently, this quota quickie has a great deal more substance and style than many of its contemporaries. [...] Hughes keeps the action on the boil, while Russell Napier and Rona Anderson are fine as a Scotland Yard detective and his niece." References

External links

Little Red Monkey at Letterbox DVD
 Little Red Monkey at ReelStreets

1955 films
1950s spy films
British spy films
Cold War spy films
Films directed by Ken Hughes
Films set in London
Films based on television plays
1950s English-language films
1950s British films
British black-and-white films