Chiamate West 11: risponde un assassino

With writers who were at the heart of the British new wave and set in a run down Notting Gill,as it was,I was expecting a touch of social realism.However what we get is a film that after much coveting of an X certificate,tends to go into lurid melodrama in the last third.However it was good to see Kathleen Harrison and Frieda Jackson,Finlay Currie and of course Diana Dors.A cast to cherish even if the film is not

It's very interesting, made before the 'swinging sixties' but just after the 'kitchen sink' this was Winner's first significant film although his first had been Play it Cool (1962) staring Billy Fury and Helen Shapiro. Keith Waterhouse worked on the script which is really good and most of the location around Notting Hill Gate. There are some shots around London especially Kensington Gardens and even a great view of Kenwood House in the snow. Much of the scenes are in the snow which I seem to remember in that very cold winter. As the story begins an ex-army officer tries to get the young guy to bump off his old aunt to get her money. (When he first meets him to try and tell him his plan it is in a Wimpy!) We later see him go to Paddington and even down to Corfe Castle in Dorset and the killing attempt is short but rather thrilling. Winner really does do well here and only about 28. I think it looks as there was only one scene in the studio although I'm not sure about the party and dance scenes although we even see Una Stubbs, probably her first film as she's on her knees at a party and a glimpse of Mike Leigh. There is much more than a glimpse, well about 60 seconds and no talking and no mention in the credits but we clearly see David Hemmings as a young hoodlum. Great fun.

Clearly a lesser known entry in the 'Angry Young Man" Brit flick dramas of the early 60s. Like This Sporting Life, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning, Look Back in Anger et al, it's all generational conflict and post war miserabilism.

This new realism wore itself out as the 60s really took hold and for many, things did change and improve. Perhaps the young lead Alfred Lynch didnt make it as Harris or Finney did, but he sustained a career over decades. Here he is supported by some stalwarts of British cinema (Kathleen Harrison, Eric Portman and Finlay Currie) and even the poor young actress (Kathleen Breck) saddled with the role of 'tart' which says everything about the double standard of the time and nothing about the character herself. But as is so often the case, the standout for talent and charisma is the much missed Diana Dors.

Despite her Rank charm school beginnings, her natural acting talent easily makes the most of the ever so slightly ageing good time girl role she has. Her charisma makes her the most compelling of all the players. Star quality that never left her.

Its not great, but its worth a watch, if only as a reasonably authentic period piece. The Director Michael Winner had more commercial success, but this may be as a good a film as he ever made.

While trying to create a stylish British film noir, Michael Winner unwittingly created an existentialism masterpiece! Only those armed with such expectations will feel that their time is not wasted. Those expecting kitchen sink drama or noir will very probably yawn throughout.

As such, acting in this movie serves its purpose and helps open up the world of boredom, hope and individual aspirations and disappointments. Nicely shot, slowly-paced and with a decent period music deployed to show adequately gloomy passtime activities of the W11 youth and pub-goers of the early 60's, the film satisfies all the criteria required for it to fit into the existentialism category.

Maybe it's because I don't much like Alfred Lynch or Michael Winner films generally, but this film dragged terribly. For me, it was only worth watching for the end credit music played beautifully by Mr Acker Bilk, a haunting piece somewhat reminiscent of Bilk's own 'Bitter Harvest' theme. There were some great 'kitchen sink' films made in Britain in the late 50's and early 60's, but this doesn't make the grade.