Seems to take a leaf from on-location US cop thrillers and noir. Zippily paced film moves, has great compositions, fast car scenes. Jack Warden inducts new copper Jimmy Hanley to Paddington beat. Dirk Bogarde and Patric Doonan are petty criminals. Getting a lot of Bogarde lately, I'm pleased to say. (His christened name was 'Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde '!)
The moment where Gladys Henson learns Dixon has died is brilliant - she just says 'I'd better put these [flowers] in water'... then she breaks down. Also loved the little girl who finds the gun who will only say 'No', and the witness couple who disagree about everything; and the criminal Bogarde approaches in the first place to help him is the one who enlists the White City bookies to organise his capture. Great script, in other words, from Pimlico's T.E.B. Clarke.
With Bernard Lee and Robert Flemyng, and a terribly overacting Peggy Evans.
Shot by Gordon Dines. No music. Ealing.
Dearden made the 'Hearse' story in Dead of Night and a segment in Train of Events, Pool of London, I Believe In You, Victim, Masquerade, The Assassination Bureau, The Man Who Haunted Himself and three episodes of The Persuaders, including the first, 'Overture'.
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