The Weapon (film)
The Weapon is a 1956 British thriller film directed by Val Guest and starring Steve Cochran, Lizabeth Scott, Herbert Marshall, and Nicole Maurey. It was made by Republic Pictures. Its themes were originally explored in the 1951 British film "The Yellow Balloon". The film was shot at Walton Studios, with sets designed by art director John Stoll. Plot. Elsa Jenner (Lizabeth Scott) is a widowed mother to her young son Erik. Whilst playing with friends in an abandoned derelict building, Erik finds a small handgun stuck in a lump of concrete. As all the boys try to  pull it free, it accidentally fires a shot from Erik's hands, hitting another boy. Believing he has killed his friend, Erik immediately runs away. Efforts for locating Erik is led by Captain Mark Andrews (Steve Cochran), soon discovers the gun Erik found has a past that may have caused a dangerous criminal to pursue the young boy. As he inches closer to finding Erik, Andrews comes across Vivienne (Nicole Maurey), a dance-hall hostess with a connection to the gun's original owner. But she has all but lost her faith in all things good, declaring to Andrews: "I  am dead." As Andrews continues his investigation into the gun's whereabouts, Erik's mother Elsa finally locates her son with the helpful assistance of relative stranger Joshua Henry. Erik had apparently stolen a bottle of milk from Henry but does not remember doing so. It soon becomes clear that Henry has ill intentions, prompting Elsa to demand that Erik run away for help. Henry runs after the boy, leaving Elsa in the passenger side of a speeding car. After crashing into a ditch, members of the public come to Elsa's aid. Among them is Captain Andrews, with whom  Elsa pleads not to worry about her, and to save her son instead. Andrews immediately enters the old building into which Henry was seen running, and shots are fired. After both parties exhaust their weapons, a long fall to death awaits. Critical reception. "Britmovie" called the film "a well-crafted, energetic suspense thriller", while Leonard Maltin called it a "minor but trim story of youngster who accidentally shoots his pal and runs away."