Dancing with Crime

Not really the best title for this ordinary British crime-noir, but Richard Attenborough ("Ted") and Shiela Sim ("Joy") put in a decent effort. He is a London taxi driver who finds himself embroiled in some criminal activities when his wartime friend is found murdered. The trail leads both him and the police to a nightclub run by "Gregory" (Barry Jones) and his MC "Baker" (Barry K. Barnes). The pair decide that "Joy" may be able to help their investigation by taking a job as an hostess at the club, but is she putting herself and him in even more danger as the gang soon realise that they are onto them? This packs quite a bit into eighty minutes and both at the top of the bill do their jobs efficiently - as does the under-stated Jones. The ending is a bit weakly predictable and it rather dialogue heavy, but it's still quite a watchable afternoon feature with a bit of menace, a little humour and a fine collection of hats!

Terrific to see the future Lord Attenborough in his cinematic infancy.

Add to its historical value the fact that it is an interesting story, well done by one and all that holds your attention from start to finish.

Convoluted plotting that is not so twisted that one gets lost in the minutia.

Reading the IMDb trivia explains the chemistry between the "boy and girl"... they were married in real life the and stayed married for decades.

Film is worth finding and checking out. I.

Worth it for the post-war background. The 50s "New Look" hadn't happened yet and all the girls have big hair and big shoulders - much more flattering than the 50s fashions that made everyone look middle-aged.

Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim are likeable. They get involved in investigating the murder of their friend, a young, dashing Bill Owen.

It's a shame Diana Dors wasn't credited. She was good in her early roles - she turns up in another dance hall with Petula Clark and Bonar Colleano. I think she was dubbed in both films, though.

To the gentleman who thought it terribly rude that some other bloke could just grab your partner - it was called an "excuse me" dance. There was also a "ladies excuse me". This is not a regular Palais de Dance, however - the girls are all professional hostesses.

This had to have been one of Richard Attenborough's first films, as he appears a bit raw, but still very dynamic in this British crime drama. He plays Ted Peters, a hack driver who gets involved with a dance hall gang.

Barry Jones plays the head gangster convincingly. One of his henchmen, Paul Baker, is a lifelong friend of Ted. Paul gets Ted involved in a mess that leads to some very dangerous situations.

Ted's girlfriend, Joy, played by Sheila Sim (any relation to Alister Sim?) is very convincing as well. Scotland Yard becomes involved and the usual noir dance ends with a crescendo of violence. Entertaining.

Compo from "Last of the Summer Wine" obviously loved the East End and probably made friends with Chas 'n' Dave. That's why I saw them play at Holmfirth. It was where Summer Wine was filmed – the friendship link is complete. Compo is an East end gangster in this film. He's short in stature and makes an unconvincing tough guy. He would have been flattened in his fight scene at the beginning of the film. The same goes for his ex-army buddy, Richard Attenborough (Ted), Again, this short person would have been flattened in both his fight scenes. The fights are badly staged and very fake.

There's a criminal gang running a dancehall and carrying out robberies and Dickie short-arse meddles in their affairs so he can get to the truth behind his pal Compo's demise. Guess what – he succeeds. Standard good guy v bad guy stuff. The most interesting moments of the film for me occur in the dancehall where Diana Dors hangs out. Singer and dancehall girl Judy Kelly (Toni) is the best of the cast. What is it with people cutting in on other men dancing with a girl by tapping them on the shoulder and stealing their girl away? No way! This would be disastrous and cause non-stop scuffling. I hear this was an American custom introduced in films. I can't believe this actually happened! Any info on this ludicrous concept would be greatly appreciated.