Breakaway (1956)

A private detective (Tom Conway) inadvertently gets involved with the kidnapping of a young secretary (Paddy Webster) and a stolen secret formula smuggled out of East Germany. Directed by Henry Cass (YOUNG WIVES TALE), this minor British programmer is an inoffensive if rather farfetched thriller but it's over so quickly (it has a running time of one hour and nine minutes) that it doesn't wear out its welcome. An aging Conway (he was 51) is still elegant but a bit mature for this sort of "secret formula for sale to highest bidder" nonsense. There's not much one can say about a B picture like this other than it passes the time nicely. With Honor Blackman, John Colicos, Michael Balfour (who provides the requisite comedy relief), Brian Worth and Arthur Lowe.