Hell Is a City

Hell Is a City is a 1960 British crime thriller film directed by Val Guest and starring Stanley Baker, John Crawford and Donald Pleasence. It was written by Guest based on the 1954 novel of the same title by Maurice Procter, and made by British studio Hammer Film Productions on location in Manchester. It was partly inspired by the British New Wave films and resembles American film noir. Filming ran from 21 September 1959 to 5 November 1959, and the film was trade shown on 11 March 1960 and again on 10 April 1960. This was Stanley Baker's second and last film for Hammer, because after he appeared in Zulu (1964), Hammer could no longer afford him. It was also Val Guest's last big movie for Hammer, and he always spoke very highly of the film. An alternative ending was shot for the film featuring Stanley Baker's reconciliation with Maxine Audley at the end of the movie, but it was apparently not shown theatrically. The alternative ending was included on at least one DVD release as a bonus feature.