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IMDbPro

The Third Key

Original title: The Long Arm
  • 19561956
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
963
YOUR RATING
The Third Key (1956)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
Police drama. The sleuths of Scotland Yard try to solve a series of burglaries.Police drama. The sleuths of Scotland Yard try to solve a series of burglaries.Police drama. The sleuths of Scotland Yard try to solve a series of burglaries.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
963
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Charles Frend
  • Writers
    • Robert Barr(story)
    • Janet Green(screenplay)
    • Dorothy Christie(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Jack Hawkins
    • John Stratton
    • Dorothy Alison
Top credits
  • Director
    • Charles Frend
  • Writers
    • Robert Barr(story)
    • Janet Green(screenplay)
    • Dorothy Christie(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Jack Hawkins
    • John Stratton
    • Dorothy Alison
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 26User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos132

    The Third Key (1956)
    Dorothy Alison in The Third Key (1956)
    Ralph Truman in The Third Key (1956)
    Glyn Houston and Fred Nicholas in The Third Key (1956)
    Anthony Richmond in The Third Key (1956)
    Jack Hawkins in The Third Key (1956)
    John Stratton in The Third Key (1956)
    George Rose and John Stratton in The Third Key (1956)
    Ursula Howells in The Third Key (1956)
    The Third Key (1956)
    The Third Key (1956)
    The Third Key (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Hawkins
    Jack Hawkins
    • Detective Superintendent Tom Hallidayas Detective Superintendent Tom Halliday
    John Stratton
    John Stratton
    • Detective Sergeant Wardas Detective Sergeant Ward
    Dorothy Alison
    Dorothy Alison
    • Mary Hallidayas Mary Halliday
    Michael Brooke
    • Tony Hallidayas Tony Halliday
    Sam Kydd
    Sam Kydd
    • Police Constable in Information Roomas Police Constable in Information Room
    Glyn Houston
    Glyn Houston
    • Detective Sergeant in 'Q' caras Detective Sergeant in 'Q' car
    Richard Leech
    Richard Leech
    • Nightwatchmanas Nightwatchman…
    Newton Blick
    • Deputy Commanderas Deputy Commander
    Geoffrey Keen
    Geoffrey Keen
    • Chief Superintendent Jim Malcolmas Chief Superintendent Jim Malcolm
    Sydney Tafler
    Sydney Tafler
    • Stoneas Stone
    Peter Burton
    Peter Burton
    • Creaseyas Creasey
    George Rose
    George Rose
    • Slobas Slob
    Arthur Rigby
    • Detective Inspector at Chesteras Detective Inspector at Chester
    Ralph Truman
    Ralph Truman
    • Colonel Blenkinsopas Colonel Blenkinsop
    Ian Bannen
    Ian Bannen
    • The Young Workman - Stanley Jamesas The Young Workman - Stanley James
    Maureen Davis
    • The Young Workman's Wife - Mrs. Jamesas The Young Workman's Wife - Mrs. James
    John Warwick
    • Detective Inspector at Shipping Officeas Detective Inspector at Shipping Office
    Joss Ambler
    Joss Ambler
    • Cashier at Shipping Officeas Cashier at Shipping Office
    • Director
      • Charles Frend
    • Writers
      • Robert Barr(story) (screenplay)
      • Janet Green(screenplay)
      • Dorothy Christie(additional dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    The Long Arm
    The Long Arm

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The last film made at Ealing Studios, London.
    • 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.
    • 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!

    • Crazy credits
      Jack Hawkins and John Stratton had earlier worked together in the War movie 'The Cruel Sea'.

    User reviews26

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A logical story
    Apart from the unique acting style of Jack Hawkins (before his so sad illness), one thing which marks this film out from modern detective yarns is that the detective work follows logical sequences - little depends on chance and nothing on fantastic coincidences.

    It is a rattling good yarn - I only wish the same could be said of todays films.

    And the supporting cast!!! Ian Bannen gets run over and killed and (Sir) Alec McCowan is an unimportant doctor. But everyone has to start somewhere.

    Those were the days

    Gerald (aged 72)
    helpful•42
    2
    • Gerald-5
    • Apr 4, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 1956 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Treci kljuc
    • Filming locations
      • Pen-Y-Gwryd, Gwynedd, Wales, UK
    • Production company
      • Ealing Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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