"Classic British Noir"
Directed by Basil Dreaden (
Cage of Gold (1950),
Pool Of London (1951)). Written by T.E.B. Clarke, with Jan Read and Ted Willis credited for original treatment. Additional dialogue was by Alexander Mackendrick. Cinematography was by Gordon Dines.
The film stars Jack Warner as PC George Dixon, Jimmy Hanley as PC Andy Mitchell, Dirk Bogarde as hood Tom Riley, Peggy Evans as Diana Lewis, Patric Doonan as hood Spud, Bruce Seton as PC Campbell, Gladys Henson as Mrs. Dixon, Frederick Piper as Alf Lewis, Tessie O'Shea as herself, and Sam Kydd as Bookmakers Assistant White City (uncredited)
A very good police procedural Noir that equally focuses on the criminals also. This is a film that is basically unknown in the U.S. It hasn't been shown on cable anytime recently that I know of and it's not available on a Region 1 DVD. As far as UK based Noirs it is usually rated among the top ten.
Like most procedural's it begins with a voice over narration stating that the rise in crime is directly related to insufficient numbers of constables on patrol.
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| A PC sergeant and PC George Dixon |
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| PC Andy Mitchell, center |
From there we are introduced to PC George Dixon a veteran who is about to retire and his charge a 25 year old rookie PC Andy Mitchell. Dixon and his wife have lost a son during WWII and have an empty room, George suggests to his wife, after he invites Andy over for dinner that they ought to take Andy in as a lodger, which they do.
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| Gladys Henson as Mrs. Dixon |
Reminiscent of later TV formula ensemble precinct cop shows,
The Blue Lamp in various vignettes gives you a taste of the camaraderie, routines, and off duty diversions the Paddington Green police station personnel. One interesting bit of trivia that I picked up was the use of the vertical black and white stripped cloth brassards or arm band "duty bands," that the constables wear while on active duty.
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| On a tea break notice the duty bands worn on the left sleeve cuff |
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| George and Andy handle a domestic disturbance |
The story of the two young hoods Spud and Tom Riley that eventually are the subjects of a citywide manhunt, are hooked into a runaway daughter, Diana Lewis, vignette.
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| Patric Doonan as Spud lt, Dirk Bogarde as Tom Riley rt. |
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| Andy takes out his notepad to write down the details that Peggy's mother provides to him about her daughter |
Diana flees her crowded typical "kitchen sink" precursor type flat to shack up with boyfriend Tom Riley. The boys use Peggy as the inside finger "woman" who scouts out their various planned robberies.
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| Peggy Evans as Diana Lewis |
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| Tom, Diana, Spud |
The first being the robbery of a jeweler who Peggy tells them is carrying on an affair with a woman. The boys break into the apartment, knock the jeweler out, steal the girlfriends pearls and the keys to his shop which they use loot the business.
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| The robbed jeweler |
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| a confrontation at the jewelers |
The second job is the robbery of the box office payroll of a movie theater where Peggy has just gotten a job. The boys for an alibi, go to a nearby music hall to catch Tessie O'Shea.
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| Tessie O'Shea |
They go to the lounge and order two drinks, but when Tessie starts her number they tell the barkeep to hold their drinks while they go watch her performance. Spud and Tom then head to the gentleman's lounge, slip out the window and drive a stolen car to the cinema to rob the box office.
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| Tom robbing the box office |
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| PC Dixon confronts Tom |
During the hold up two movie patrons see the holdup in progress and get the nearby patrolling PC Dixon to investigate. It all goes Noirsville when Tom panics and blasts him with a pistol.
Noirsville
The film boasts a couple of great high speed auto chases through the Paddington district of West London. It was, for me anyway, a bit ear opening to hear a loud double clank bell sound coming from the pursuing police "wireless" car rather that a wailing siren. It's reminiscent of the sound of the type of thumb activated bell that a kid would have attached to the handlebar of a tricycle, only much louder.
The Blue Lamp is also a bit similar to
M where both the police and the professional criminals join forces to apprehend a cop killer.
All the actors are excellent, and the story is nicely balanced. It provides a great archival snapshot of 1949/50 London. Screencaps are from the Vintage Classics Studio Canal Blu. 9/10
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