The Third Key (1956)
The Long Arm (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 1h 36min
- Crime, Drama
- Jun 1956 (UK)
- Movie
The sleuths of Scotland Yard try to solve a series of burglaries.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jack Hawkins | ... |
Detective Superintendent Tom Halliday
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| John Stratton | ... |
Detective Sergeant Ward
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| Dorothy Alison | ... |
Mary Halliday
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Michael Brooke | ... |
Tony Halliday
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| Sam Kydd | ... |
Police Constable in Information Room
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| Glyn Houston | ... |
Detective Sergeant in 'Q' car
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| Richard Leech | ... |
Nightwatchman / Gilson
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Newton Blick | ... |
Deputy Commander
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| Geoffrey Keen | ... |
Chief Superintendent Jim Malcolm
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| Sydney Tafler | ... |
Stone
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| Peter Burton | ... |
Creasey
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| George Rose | ... |
Slob
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Arthur Rigby | ... |
Detective Inspector at Chester
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| Ralph Truman | ... |
Colonel Blenkinsop
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| Ian Bannen | ... |
The Young Workman - Stanley James
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Maureen Davis | ... |
The Young Workman's Wife - Mrs. James
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John Warwick | ... |
Detective Inspector at Shipping Office
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| Joss Ambler | ... |
Cashier at Shipping Office
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| Barry Keegan | ... |
Detective Constable in Hospital Ward
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| Alec McCowen | ... |
House Surgeon
(as Alec McOwen)
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Harry Locke | ... |
Secondhand Dealer
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| Nicholas Parsons | ... |
Police Constable Bates
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Warwick Ashton | ... |
Newspaper Circulation Manager
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| Ursula Howells | ... |
Mrs. Elliot / Mrs. Gilson
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David Davies | ... |
Welsh Police Constable
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Julie Milton | ... |
Welsh Newsagent's Daughter
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| Meredith Edwards | ... |
Mr. Thomas
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| Harold Goodwin | ... |
Official at Somerset House
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| John Welsh | ... |
House Agent at Shepperton
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Gillian Webb | ... |
Housewife at Shepperton
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| Maureen Delaney | ... |
Mrs. Stevens, the daily help
(as Maureen Delany)
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| Jameson Clark | ... |
Detective Superintendent Ogilvie
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| William Mervyn | ... |
Manager of Festival Hall
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Vincent Ball | ... |
P.C. at Hospital (uncredited)
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Dennis Carnell | ... |
Supervisor (uncredited)
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Edward Cast | ... |
Policeman Constable - Information Room (uncredited)
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Michael Collins | ... |
Detective in 'Q' Car (uncredited)
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| Richard Davies | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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Fred Davis | ... |
Police Radio Reporter (uncredited)
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Jack Dearlove | ... |
Shipping Office Clerk (uncredited)
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Robert Gregory | ... |
Detective shadowing Creasey (uncredited)
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Fred Griffiths | ... |
Barman (uncredited)
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Patrick Halpin | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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Aidan Harrington | ... |
Police Photographer (uncredited)
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| Frazer Hines | ... |
Urchin (uncredited)
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George Holdcroft | ... |
Police Administrator (uncredited)
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Lindsay Hooper | ... |
Police Administrator (uncredited)
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Arthur Howell | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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| Stratford Johns | ... |
Constable (uncredited)
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| David Lodge | ... |
Detective at Car Lot (uncredited)
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Colin McKenzie | ... |
Police Administator (uncredited)
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Jack McNaughton | ... |
Newspaper Circulation Manager (Manchester) (uncredited)
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Robert Moore | ... |
Sergeant at Bow Street Police Station (uncredited)
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Fred Nicholas | ... |
Detective in 'Q' car (uncredited)
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John Paul | ... |
Police Radio Operator (uncredited)
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Roy Purcell | ... |
Fingerprint Man (uncredited)
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Charles Rayford | ... |
Milkman (uncredited)
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Anthony Richmond | ... |
Child (uncredited)
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Pat Ryan | ... |
Shop Assistant (uncredited)
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| Guy Standeven | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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Philip Stewart | ... |
Man at Somerset House (uncredited)
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| Frederick Treves | ... |
Detective tailing Creasey (uncredited)
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| Peter Welch | ... |
CID Man (uncredited)
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Meadows White | ... |
Burglar Alarm Engineer (uncredited)
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John Wilder | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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Sonnie Willis | ... |
Police Driver (uncredited)
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| Martin Wyldeck | ... |
Officer in Criminal Records Department (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Charles Frend | ||
Written by
| Robert Barr | ... | (story) |
| Janet Green | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Robert Barr | ... | (screenplay) |
| Dorothy Christie | ... | (additional dialogue) and |
| Campbell Christie | ... | (additional dialogue) |
Produced by
| Michael Balcon | ... | producer |
| Thomas N. Morahan | ... | associate producer (as Tom Morahan) |
Music by
| Gerard Schurmann | ... | (as Gerbrand Schürmann) |
Cinematography by
| Gordon Dines | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Gordon Stone | ||
Editorial Department
| Barbara Bennett | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Robin Clarke | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Jack Harris | ... | supervising editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Edward Carrick | ||
Costume Design by
| Anthony Mendleson | ||
Makeup Department
| Harry Frampton | ... | makeup artist |
| Daphne Martin | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Hal Mason | ... | production supervisor |
| Norman Priggen | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| David Middlemas | ... | assistant director |
| Michael Birkett | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
| Otto Plaschkes | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
| David Tringham | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| W. Simpson Robinson | ... | scenic artist |
| Len Wills | ... | assistant art director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Stephen Dalby | ... | sound supervisor |
| Alastair McIntyre | ... | sound editor |
| Cyril Swern | ... | recordist |
| Harry Fairbairn | ... | assistant boom operator (uncredited) |
| Peter Lacey | ... | sound (uncredited) |
| Ray Palmer | ... | dubbing crew (uncredited) |
| Eric Stockl | ... | dubbing crew (uncredited) |
| Don Wortham | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| E.R. Taylor | ... | special effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jeff Seaholme | ... | camera operator |
| Roy Gough | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Ted Lockhart | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Michael Sarafian | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Ken Westbury | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Dock Mathieson | ... | conductor / musical director (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Pamela Gayler | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Lee Turner | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
| John Jack Lewis Worrow | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
Thanks
| John Nott-Bower | ... | we gratefully acknowledge the help given by (as the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis Sir John Nott-Bower K.C.V.O. and his staff at New Scotland Yard) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1956) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors Limited) (released through)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1956) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Rank Film (1956) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Rank (1957) (France) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors of Belgium (1957) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors of America (1957) (United States) (theatrical) (re-titled)
- Warner Home Video (1992) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- London County Council (we gratefully acknowledge the facilities provided by, at the Royal Festival Hall)
- Sinfonia of London (music played by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Someone has broken into the safe of a London company, and yet no force or explosive was used, and the keys do not appear to have been lost. A police superintendent is investigating, assisted by a new and very keen sergeant. The superintendent's wife is worried that he may be in personal danger, and the superintendent is not always mindful of the need to reassure his wife. Then a safe in another business is also robbed without the use of force, but the robber's getaway car runs down a bystander, who later dies. There seems to be nothing to link the crimes, but then the getaway car is found abandoned in a scrap yard. A discarded newspaper in the car may be a crucial lead in solving the crime, but there isn't much to go on. Written by Hazel Freeman |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The True Inside Story of Scotland Yard's Crime Busters! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The last film made at Ealing Studios, London. See more » |
| Goofs | About 6 minutes in, there is a interior shot of the Night Watchman as he begins to leave the bank with the police. As he does so he puts a black glove onto his right hand. A second later there is an exterior shot of him exiting the bank with the black glove on his left hand. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Those British Faces: A Tribute to Jack Hawkins 1910-1973 (1993). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | SPOILER: In the end credits Ursula Howells is credited twice: first as her fake character Mrs. Elliot, and then at the end as Mrs. Gilson, the wife of Gilson the criminal. See more » |
| Quotes |
[during the final chase, Halliday leaps onto the bonnet of the getaway car and stops it by smashing its windscreen with his truncheon; as it lurches to a halt, he falls off the bonnet onto the ground. Ward helps him up]
Detective-Sergeant Ward: Are you all right, sir? Detective-Superintendent Tom Halliday: I'll live, I think. Detective-Sergeant Ward: Nothing broken? [Halliday pauses and looks mortified] Detective-Superintendent Tom Halliday: Yes - a promise I made to let *other* people take the risks! See more » |