conspiracy and chase is given a glamour which is in no way dimmed by the "nice" atmosphere of the youth club scenes and the puerility of the social workers, who can apparently be so easily duped. The performance of James Kenney and some good location work are the best points of the film... Joan Collins as the misused young girl is badly miscast." The Los Angeles Times said the "acting... is tops." Box Office The film performed poorly at the box office. Historical context In England in the early 1950s, male youths in post-World War II delinquent gangs who wore stylised Edwardian-era fashion were initially known as 'cosh boys', and 'Edwardians', but later became better known as 'Teddy Boys' after a 23 September 1953 Daily Express newspaper headline shortened Edwardian to Teddy. References External links Cosh Boy at BFI Screenonline 1953 films 1953 drama films British drama films Films directed by Lewis Gilbert Films set in London Films set in England Films shot at Riverside Studios Lippert Pictures films British black-and-white films British films based on plays 1950s English-language films 1950s British films