The Blue Lamp (1950)

The daily routine of two London policemen is interrupted by a killer.

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

T.E.B. Clarke (screenplay), Jan Read (original treatment),

Stars:

Jack Warner, Jimmy Hanley, Dirk Bogarde

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jack Warner	...	PC George Dixon
Jimmy Hanley	...	PC Andy Mitchell
Dirk Bogarde	...	Tom Riley
Robert Flemyng	...	Police Sgt. Roberts
Bernard Lee	...	Inspector Cherry
Peggy Evans	...	Diana Lewis
Patric Doonan	...	Spud
Bruce Seton	...	PC Campbell
Meredith Edwards	...	PC Hughes
Clive Morton	...	Police Sgt. Brooks
Frederick Piper	...	Alf Lewis
Dora Bryan	...	Maisie
Gladys Henson	...	Mrs Dixon
Tessie O'Shea	...	Herself

Storyline

We follow the daily activities of two London bobbies, veteran George Dixon and rookie Andy Mitchell. Meanwhile, young hoods Tom and Spud plan a series of robberies with Tom's girl Diana, a discontented beauty, as inside worker. But in their second crime, one of our heroes is shot, setting off a citywide manhunt. The killer is clever, but will he outsmart himself?

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Plot Keywords:

ealing | sergeant | police officer killed

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Taglines:

The unending battle of the city streets

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Lâmpada Azul

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The producers obtained the full co-operation from the Metropolitan Police (the first film to do so) and were therefore able to use the real-life Paddington Green Police Station and New Scotland Yard for their location work.

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Goofs

When car 5-D makes a turn at supposed high speed, just after PC Mitchell says "There they are", a woman and two children on the pavement at the left are also walking slightly faster than usual.

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Quotes

Diana Lewis: What d'ye think I am? Soft or something?
Spud: Yeah.

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Connections

Spoofed in Screenplay: The Black and Blue Lamp (1988)

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Soundtracks

"I'm Looking for a Lad"
(uncredited)
Written and Performed by Tessie O'Shea

User Reviews

Excellent police drama

I taped The Blue Lamp when Channel 4 screened it one afternoon and found it very good.

It is about the normal life of Paddington Green Police station in London and the police have more work on when a murderer strikes. Worse still, one of the murderer's victims is PC George Dixon. These murders turn out to be connected with a series of robberies on shops and the search for the killer is stepped up. He is caught at the end in a greyhound stadium.

The Blue Lamp gives you an idea on what life was like at this time (1950) and it is great to see the old buses, trolleybuses, cars and other vehicles in the background. Very atmospheric at times too.

The cast is lead by Jack Warner as PC Dixon and is joined by Dirk Bogarde (Doctor In the House), Jimmy Hanley, Robert Flemyng (The Blood Beast Terror), Bernard Lee (long before he appeared as M in the James Bond movies), Gladys Henson and Dora Bryan (who can now be seen in comedy Last of the Summer Wine). Great parts from all.

Despite him being killed off in this, Jack Warner went on to star as PC Dixon in the long running and successful TV series Dixon of Dock Green.

The Blue Lamp is British drama at its best. Excellent.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.