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IMDbPro

Légitime défense

Original title: The Shop at Sly Corner
  • 1947
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
468
YOUR RATING
Diana Dors, Derek Farr, Kenneth Griffith, Kathleen Harrison, Oscar Homolka, Muriel Pavlow, and Manning Whiley in Légitime défense (1947)
Film NoirCrimeDrama

In Britain, a man with a shady past uses his antiquities shop as a front for smuggled diamonds but his young shop-assistant starts blackmailing him, leading to murder and to a police investi... Read allIn Britain, a man with a shady past uses his antiquities shop as a front for smuggled diamonds but his young shop-assistant starts blackmailing him, leading to murder and to a police investigation.In Britain, a man with a shady past uses his antiquities shop as a front for smuggled diamonds but his young shop-assistant starts blackmailing him, leading to murder and to a police investigation.

  • Director
    • George King
  • Writers
    • Katherine Strueby
    • Reginald Long
    • Edward Percy
  • Stars
    • Oscar Homolka
    • Derek Farr
    • Muriel Pavlow
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    468
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George King
    • Writers
      • Katherine Strueby
      • Reginald Long
      • Edward Percy
    • Stars
      • Oscar Homolka
      • Derek Farr
      • Muriel Pavlow
    • 17User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos49

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    Top cast21

    Edit
    Oscar Homolka
    Oscar Homolka
    • Descius Heiss
    Derek Farr
    Derek Farr
    • Robert Graham
    Muriel Pavlow
    Muriel Pavlow
    • Margaret Heiss
    Kenneth Griffith
    Kenneth Griffith
    • Archie Fellowes
    Manning Whiley
    Manning Whiley
    • Corder Morris
    Kathleen Harrison
    Kathleen Harrison
    • Mrs. Catt
    Garry Marsh
    Garry Marsh
    • Major Elliot
    Jan Van Loewen
    • Professor Vanetti
    Irene Handl
    Irene Handl
    • Ruby Towser
    Johnnie Schofield
    • Inspector Robson
    Arthur Dibbs
    • Man at Auction
    • (uncredited)
    Diana Dors
    Diana Dors
    • Mildred
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Harris
    Sam Harris
    • Pubber
    • (uncredited)
    Katie Johnson
    Katie Johnson
    • Music Box Seller.
    • (uncredited)
    Vi Kaley
    Vi Kaley
    • Flower Seller
    • (uncredited)
    David Keir
    • Gentleman Customer
    • (uncredited)
    James Knight
    • Publican
    • (uncredited)
    Eliot Makeham
    Eliot Makeham
    • Usher At Concert Hall
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • George King
    • Writers
      • Katherine Strueby
      • Reginald Long
      • Edward Percy
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews17

    6.6468
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    Featured reviews

    7AAdaSC

    Sly blackmail

    Oskar Homolka (Mr Heiss) owns an antique shop and is very proud of his violin-playing daughter Muriel Pavlow (Margaret) who is just breaking into the big time. Kenneth Griffith (Archie) is a slimy weasel who works in the shop and is attracted to Muriel. God knows why. She has a boyfriend in the Navy - Derek Farr (Robert) - and they are the rather bland goody-two-shoes couple. It is the other actors who give this film colour and the desire to see things through to the end. Griffith has a weasely plan to get one over Homolka.

    One strange thing about the film was making Homolka a French citizen. No, he's not. What's the point in trying to pull that one off? Anyway, I'm not surprised at what he's up to with his antiques and when you have a character like the slimy Griffith as an assistant, then you are asking for trouble. Diana Dors (Mildred) has a memorable small role as a cheap girlfriend for Griffith. As does Katie Johnson as a customer in the shop - you'll recognize her from her pivotal role in "The Ladykillers" (1955).
    7ksf-2

    it's pretty good

    The shop at sly corner, on tubi streaming, is called code of scotland yard on imdb. When a shop assistant overhears a conversation by the shop owner, it sets off a chain of events. Heiss (homolka) has been using his shop to fence and sell stolen goods. Archie, his employee (griffith) tries to blackmail him. But it doesn't go as planned. Good intrigue. Some twists and turns. The sound and picture quality are excellent. Good suspense as the coppers track down the killer. Directed by george king, right at the end of his working years. He only directed one more after this. Based on the play by edward percy. Homolka will be nominated for best supporting actor for "I remember mama". It's pretty good. Made in post war britain. Muriel pavlow (plays margaret) married co-star derek farr... he plays robert graham!
    6malcolmgsw

    Gorilla steals the show

    This film has an excellent cast.Kenneth Griffiths being very nasty as the blackmailing Archie.Gary Marsh being his usual jovial policeman.Bits from Kathleen Harrison and Irene Handel.However towering over them all is Oscar Hamolka and his expressive eyebrows.He steals every scene he is in,not just in this film but every film he appeared in.His is an excellent performance which keeps the film going after the murder of Archie.However the film does rely on an unlikely contrivance to bring the film to its slightly tame ending.What on earth was Irene Handel doing wandering around in the woods late at night?Due to her presence the murder eventually unravels.
    7CinemaSerf

    The Shop at Sly Corner

    Oscar Homolka is super in this crafty little crime noir. He portrays a reputable antiques dealer whose daughter "Margaret" (Muriel Pavlow) is a virtuoso violinist. Unbeknown to all, though, he also has another business fencing stolen jewellery with his friend Derek Farr. When his odious clark "Morris" (Manning Whiley) overhears one of their conversations and tries his hand at a little blackmail, things start to spiral out of control as he threatens to tell the young woman of her father's behind-the-scenes shenanigans. When he demands that he be allowed to marry her - well you can guess! George King keeps the pace of this moving along well, with Whiley really good as the scheming underling whose looming comeuppance is surely just a matter of time. The score - especially the Mendelssohn Violin concerto at the end, adds loads to the atmosphere of this superior thriller that has plenty to shout about. Rarely seen these days, but if you do come across it - give it a watch, it's a more substantial part for the star that is well worth a watch.
    7mb014f2908

    drama with a thriller twist in the tale

    I finally caught this film on an ebay DVD copy which was OK quality but not top notch. I'd read Muriel Pavlow's interview by Brian McFarlane which mentioned this film and her role in it and so i was interested to see it. This is the film on which she met her future husband actor Derek Farr and admits she was upstaged by Oscar Homolka every which way. Homolka is the heart and guts of this film and he is superb. Kenneth Griffith( he played the same role in the stage production) also shines and once he disappears from the action the film is not so gripping. There is an effective twist in the tale/tail and it is a surprisingly downbeat story overall with its insights into the less savoury side of human character.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was Diana Dors' first film.
    • Goofs
      Descius Heiss is supposed to be French, although the name is not French, and Oscar Homolka does not use a French accent.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Catt: Ooh! You young 'orror! Stop prosecutin' that cat. You woundn't 'alf cop it if the guv'nor saw you!

    • Connections
      Featured in Diana Dors: Britain's Blonde Bombshell (2022)
    • Soundtracks
      Ave Maria
      (uncredited)

      Music by Franz Schubert

      Arranged by George Melachrino

      Performed by Frederick Grinke (solo violin)

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    FAQ15

    • How long is The Shop at Sly Corner?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 15, 1948 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Code of Scotland Yard
    • Filming locations
      • Worton Hall Studios, Isleworth, Middlesex, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Pennant Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 31m(91 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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