Never Take Candy From A Stranger

Never Take Candy From a Stranger is a 1960 British psychological thriller directed by Cyril Frankel. It tells the story of a young girl named Jean who is lured into danger by an elderly man in a small Canadian town.

The movie opens with Jean Carter (played by Janina Faye), a young girl who has recently moved to the small town of Rocky Point with her parents. One day, while playing in the woods, she meets an old man named Clarence Olderberry Sr. (played by Felix Aylmer). He offers her candy and invites her to come and visit him at his mansion.

At first, Jean's parents (Gwen Watford and Patrick Allen) think it's just a harmless encounter with an old man. But when Jean tells them that the old man wants her to sit on his lap and play games, they begin to suspect that something is not right.

As the story unfolds, the parents become more and more concerned about the old man's intentions. They discover that he has been preying on young girls for years and that the townspeople have been keeping quiet about it. When they try to press charges, they are met with resistance from the community who fear the damage such a scandal would do to their town's reputation.

The movie builds tension with great skill as we watch Jean's parents struggle to protect their daughter from a man who is both dangerous and well-connected. The acting is fantastic, with Gwen Watford and Patrick Allen conveying the fear and desperation of parents trying to navigate a treacherous situation. Janina Faye is also superb as the innocent child caught in the middle.

This movie was very ahead of its time in dealing with the topic of child abuse. Until that point, this subject had been taboo in British cinema. Cyril Frankel's film explores the themes of child abuse and the erosion of trust in small-town communities with sensitivity, nuance and without sensationalism.

The cinematography by Freddie Francis is also noteworthy. The movie was shot in black and white, which gives it a sense of starkness that is perfect for the story. The contrast between the darkness of the woods and the bright, sterile interiors of the mansion adds to the movie's air of unease.

From beginning to end, Never Take Candy From A Stranger is a tense, gripping and highly entertaining thriller that holds up remarkably well nearly sixty years after its release. It's a must-see for anyone interested in British cinema or psychological thrillers.