The Shadow Man (1953) Street of Shadows (original title)

Director:

Richard Vernon

Writers:

Richard Vernon (screenplay)
Laurence Meynell (novel)

Release Date:

16 October 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

When a girl like this is unfaithful she is WATCHED...HUNTED...KILLED!

Plot:

Small-time Soho hustler gets caught up in the murder of an ex-girl friend, evades the police and finally helps them to corner the real murderer.

Plot Keywords:

Police Surveillance | Gambler | Death Of Husband | Cigarettes | High Heels

Cast

Cesar Romero	...	Luigi
Kay Kendall	...	Barbara Gale
Edward Underdown	...	Det. Insp. Johnstone
Victor Maddern	...	Danny 'Limpy' Thomas
Simone Silva	...	Angele Abbé
Liam Gaffney	...	Constable Fred Roberts
Bill Travers	...	Nigel Langley - Barbara's date
Robert Cawdron	...	Det. Sgt. Hadley
John Penrose	...	Gerald Gale, Barbara's husband
Molly Hamley-Clifford	...	'Starry' Darrell
Eileen Way	...	Mrs. Thoms, Angele's landlady
Paul Hardtmuth	...	J.M. 'Poppa' Mayall, jeweller-hideout keeper
Tony Sympson	...	Nikki, hustler (as Tony Simpson)
Rose McLaren	...	Rose
Michael Kelly	...	Merchant Seaman West, date-abuser
Fred Griffiths	...	Cab Driver
Henry Purvis	...	Darrell (Starry Darrell's brother) (as Anaconda)
Lionel King	...	The Cardsharp
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mela White	...	Cockney Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Vernon

Writing credits
Richard Vernon		(screenplay)
Laurence Meynell		(novel "The Creaking Chair")

Produced by
William Nassour	....	producer
William H. Williams	....	producer

Original Music by
Eric Spear

Cinematography by
Phil Grindrod

Film Editing by
Geoffrey Muller

Art Direction by
George Haslam

Makeup Department
Jack Craig	....	makeup artist
Betty Sherriff	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Ted Holliday	....	production manager
Leslie Sinclair	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alf Keating	....	assistant director

Art Department
Mickey O'Toole	....	stand by props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Harry Benson	....	sound recordist
Richard A. Smith	....	sound supervisor
Sidney Rider	....	dubbing crew (uncredited)
Arthur Vincent	....	assistant boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Drinkwater	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Ron Robson	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Charles Trigg	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Tony Young	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elsie Curtis	....	wardrobe mistress

Music Department
Tommy Reilly	....	musician: harmonica solo (uncredited)

Other crew
Nat Cohen	....	presenter
Stuart Levy	....	presenter
Gladys Reeve	....	continuity

Production Companies

• William Nassour Productions (in association with)
• Merton Park Studios

Distributors

• Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors (1953) (UK) (theatrical)
• Lippert Pictures (1953) (USA) (theatrical)
• Forgotten Hollywood (2002) (USA) (video)
• Kit Parker Films (2004) (USA) (all media)
• VCI Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Street of Shadows" - UK (original title)

Runtime:

76 min | UK:84 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Sweden:15 | USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

William Nassour Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mondo oscenità (1966)

Watchable British Noir Film

This is a surprisingly well directed British B film in the noir genre. It was written and directed by the mysterious Richard Vernon (the only film he either wrote or directed), about whom little seems to be known. What happened to him? Who was he? Stalwart American actor Cesar Romero was borrowed for this film set in London's Soho, with dark streets and alleys as perhaps they were then. Kay Kendall is the love interest. She is what I call a 'fifties bust-thruster'. In those days, a surprising number of actresses hurled themselves bust first into their roles, convinced that this would advance their case. There is something about their stance, the way they stood and thrusted, which is so comical today. But it must have been effective with men at that time, or they would not have done it. An interesting footnote, or bustnote, for social historians, or anthropologists, perhaps? Kay Kendall died tragically young of throat cancer, and was much lamented. Here she manages an air of mystery and allure, though very fifties in every respect. Romero is effortlessly in command of this easy walk-through. A fine performance is delivered by Victor Maddern as 'Limpy', a pathetic East Ender with a club foot who gets all twisted up inside. Romero runs a pinball club in Soho, where Limpy is his janitor and caretaker. Two gals are floating, around stirring up various passions on all sides, some seamy card sharks are on the scene, some rough characters come and go, there is a murder, there are police, and Romero is suspected and runs. Will he clear himself? Can you guess?