Charge Of The Lancers (1954)

Set in the Crimean War, the British have developed a new "super" cannon, the details of which the Russians would love to know about. But when a British Major (Richard Wyler) with knowledge of the cannon is captured by the Russians, his best friend (Jean Pierre Aumont) crosses enemy lines to rescue him. Once you see the people behind this low budget programmer, exploitation producer Sam Katzman (TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK) and director William Castle (STRAIT JACKET), you pretty much know what you're in for. It's a stock war adventure film with one notable surprise twist near the end that I didn't see coming but it doesn't take advantage of it. Though she's top billed, the aging Paulette Goddard playing a gypsy fortune teller has what really amounts to a supporting role. But it's not a movie you can say much about. Its actors had seen better days and its producer and director would go on to better days but its mercifully short (1 hour, 15 minutes) so one can't complain. With Karin Booth, Ivan Triesault and Ben Astar.