23 Paces to Baker Street (1956)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Philip MacDonald (novel)
Nigel Balchin (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 July 1956 (West Germany)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

STEP-BY-STEP...(original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Philip Hannon, a blind playwright living in London, overhears part of a conversation , that leads him into a desperate race...

Plot Keywords:

London | Kidnapping | Hearing | Fiancee | Rescue

Cast

Van Johnson	...	Phillip Hannon
Vera Miles	...	Jean Lennox
Cecil Parker	...	Bob Matthews
Patricia Laffan	...	Miss Alice MacDonald
Maurice Denham	...	Inspector Grovening
Estelle Winwood	...	Barmaid
Liam Redmond	...	Mr. Murch
Isobel Elsom	...	Lady Syrett
Martin Benson	...	Pillings
Natalie Norwick	...	Janet Murch
Terence de Marney	...	Sgt. Luce

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) (Westrex Recording System) | Mono (optical prints)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (cut version) | West Germany:16 (uncut version) | USA:Approved (certificate #17867) | UK:U | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The central plot-gimmick about the mysterious "Mr.Evans" and its final revelation is a lift from the "Mr.Christopher" strand in The House on 92nd Street (1945), also directed by Henry Hathaway in 1945.

Goofs:

Continuity: When leaving Lady Syrett's the first time, Bob puts Phil's scarf on his shoulders, then the camera angle changes and he puts it on him again.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Nursemaid Who Disappeared (1939)

A great rainy day, suspense movie.

If you have worn out all your Hitchcock videos and need a good way to fill in a few hours on a rainy afternoon, this is the movie for you. A blind play-write over hears a fiendish conversation and is determined to intervene. Armed with his trusty man-servant and beautiful American female companion, this flick delivers on many levels, right up to the twist at the end.

They don't seem to make movies like this one anymore. Mores the pity. A must see for all suspense fans, plus a lovely glimpse into 50's London.

Scored it as 8/10.