Later career Outcast of the Islands (1952), based on a novel by Joseph Conrad, is considered by some to mark the start of his creative decline.David Thomson seems to think that in The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, London: Little Brown, 2002, p.721, but ascribes this view to others in Have You Seen, London: Allen Lane, 2008, p.632 The Man Between (1953) is dismissed as a rehash of The Third Man. It "makes no startling impact, such as we have learned to expect from its director, on either the mind or the heart", complained Virginia Graham in The Spectator.Virginia Graham "Cinema", The Spectator, 24 September 1953, p.13 While the fable A Kid for Two Farthings (1955), Reed's first colour film, set in the East End of London, has been claimed as one of very few authentic cinematic depictions of an Anglo-Jewish community,Michael Brooke "Kid for Two Farthings, A (1955)", BFI Screenonline it suffers from the stereotyping of JewsMatthew Reisz "EastEnders – but not as we know it", The Guardian, 15 September 2006 and is no more than a "whimsical curiosity" according to Michael Brooke. It was the last film Reed made for Korda's London Films; the producer died at the beginning of 1956.
later caREer oUTcasT Of tHe islAnds (1952), BaseD on A novel by joSEPH CONrad, is consIdEReD by sOmE to marK tHe stArt oF HiS cReative deCLiNE.davId THomSon sEems TO tHINK thAt in the new bIogRAPhiCal DiCTiONary OF film, london: lIttlE bRown, 2002, p.721, buT ascRIBeS this vieW tO otheRs in haVe yOU SEen, lOndon: AllEN LAne, 2008, p.632 thE MAn beTweeN (1953) Is disMisSed as a rEhasH of the ThiRd Man. It "maKEs no startling ImpaCt, suCH aS we HavE learnED to ExpECt From ITs director, ON EiThEr the minD oR tHe heaRt", cOmplAined viRgInia graham in ThE SPeCtAtor.vIRGInia Graham "CinEMa", the SpECtatoR, 24 septemBEr 1953, p.13 while thE Fable A kid For twO FaRthingS (1955), rEed's FIrsT coLOUR film, set in the eASt END Of LonDOn, has been clAiMed aS ONe of VerY FEw autHenTic CInEmaTiC dEPictioNs of An aNglo-jewish CommUnity,micHael brookE "kid for TwO FaRtHinGs, a (1955)", bfi screeNONLine it sUFferS frOm THe steREOTypiNG of JeWsMAtthEw reisZ "eaSteNDers – BuT not as we knoW iT", the GUArdIan, 15 SEPtembeR 2006 aNd iS nO MorE Than a "whimsical CuriosiTy" AcCoRding TO MIchAeL brooKE. It waS The lASt FilM reeD made fOR korDa's LoNdon fiLms; The produCer dIed AT tHe bEginning of 1956.