Freedom to Die

{{Short description|1961 British film by Francis Searle}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox film | name = Freedom to Die | image = Freedom_to_Die_film_still_(1961).jpeg | caption = Still from film | director = Francis Searle | producer = Charles A. Leeds | screenplay = Arthur La Bern | based_on = | starring = Paul Maxwell<br />Felicity Young<br />Bruce Seton | music = John Veale | cinematography = Ken Hodges | editing = Jim Connock | studio = Ardmore Studios | distributor = Butcher's Film Distributors | released = {{Film date|df=y|1961|3|5|UK}} | runtime = 61 min | country = United Kingdom | language = English | budget = }} '''''Freedom to Die''''' is a 1961 British second feature<ref name="Chibnall" /> crime thriller film directed by Francis Searle, starring Paul Maxwell and Felicity Young.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Freedom to Die |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150011089 |access-date=5 November 2023 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> It was written by Arthur La Bern.

==Plot== Craig Owen is an incarcerated criminal whose cellmate Felix knows about a safety deposit box with valuable contents. When the cellmate dies, Owen escapes to get the stash. Unable to open the box, he forces Felix's adopted daughter, Linda, to give him the key. Owen is re-arrested and sent back to prison. When his release day comes, Linda shoots him dead.

==Cast== * Paul Maxwell as Craig Owen * Felicity Young as Linda * Bruce Seton as Felix * Kay Callard as Coral * T. P. McKenna as Mike * Laurie Leigh as Julie

==Critical reception== ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' said "Unexceptional crime-and-vengeance thriller, lumbered with unnecessary plot ramifications and pretensions toward deeper motivation that neither script nor cast are equipped to handle properly. The direction is rough-and-ready, but keeps the action ticking over steadily."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1962 |title=Freedom to Die |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305822174 |journal=The Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=29 |issue=336 |pages=23 |id={{ProQuest|1305822174}} }}</ref>

Chibnall and McFarlane in ''The British 'B' Film'' describe the film as: "an unusually sombre thriller with a grim ending."<ref name="Chibnall">{{Cite book |last1=Chibnall |first1=Steve |title=''The British 'B' Film'' |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=BFI/Bloomsbury |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=154}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|0054897}}

{{Francis Searle}}

Category:1961 films Category:British crime thriller films Category:Films directed by Francis Searle Category:1961 English-language films Category:1961 British films Category:Films scored by John Veale Category:1960s crime thriller films Category:British black-and-white films