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, Dirk Bogarde, Jimmy Hanley

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	...	Detective Sgt. Roberts
Bernard Lee	...	Divisional Detective Inspector Cherry
Peggy Evans	...	Diana Lewis
Patric Doonan	...	Spud
Bruce Seton	...	PC 'Jock' Campbell
Meredith Edwards	...	PC 'Taff' Hughes
Clive Morton	...	Police Sgt. Brooks
Frederick Piper	...	Alf Lewis
Dora Bryan	...	Maisie
Gladys Henson	...	Mrs. Em Dixon
Tessie O'Shea	...	Self

Storyline

We follow the daily activities of two London bobbies, veteran Police Constable George Dixon (Jack Warner) and rookie Police Constable Andy Mitchell (Jimmy Hanley). Meanwhile, young hoods Tom (Sir Dirk Bogarde) and Spud (Patric Doonan) plan a series of robberies with Tom's girl Diana (Peggy Evans), a discontented beauty, as an 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:

color in title | spiv | beat cop | robbery | british noir | 

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Taglines:

Sheds just enough light for MURDER

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed mostly on location in London in the hot summer of 1949, the scenes filmed by the canal (where the gun was found by the little girl) proved to be hard work as the water was turning stagnant and smelt very bad.

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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, demonstrating that the footage has been sped up in post-production.

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Quotes

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

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Crazy Credits

We acknowledge with gratitude the help given by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, Sir Harold Scott,K.C.B., K.B.E., and men and women of the Metropolitan Police. To them, and their colleagues in the Police Service of Britain, we dedicate this film.

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Alternate Versions

Although this film is famous for the first spoken use of the word "bastard" as a profanity, the Talking Pictures TV channel in the UK show a slightly modified version where the word has been removed by a clever piece of editing.

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Connections

Referenced in Blue Murder: Tooth and Claw (2009)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

British neorealism?

One of the few British efforts to make the kind of 'gritty city' movies that the Americans did so well (Ritt, Cassavates, Kazan). Tibby Clarke wrote this before his (imho) finest work - 'The Lavender Hill Mob' & the climactic chase sequence of TLHM has its more sober counterpart here. This particular chase sequence would definitely rate as one of the best for the '50s. The social commentary in the beginning about old crime vs new crime (old money/ new money) jars the more politically correct '00 ears, but it definitely adds to the charm.

The most interesting performance is definitely the hugely talented Dirk Bogarde's. As the psychotic thief/ killer he sends a shiver down your spine even today. The pathetic slouch with the cold, cruel eyes stands as far apart as possible from the staid & begonia-sprouting policemen of the New Scotland Yard. And the sound of passing trains that overlaps his fits of rage? Brings back (unwelcome) memories of Jean Gabin in 'La Bete Humaine' - hv I spelt that right?

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Blue Lamp

Filming Locations:

Bishop's Bridge Road W2, Paddington, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

J. Arthur Rank Organisation, Ealing Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (recorded on) (Gaumont Kalee Sound System) (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1