Inspecteur de service (1958)

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Jack Hawkins

Chief Inspector George Gideon

Anna Lee

Mrs.Kate Gideon

Anna Massey

Sally Gideon

Andrew Ray

P.C.Simon Farnaby-Green

Howard Marion-Crawford

The Chief

John Loder

Ponsford 'The Duke'

Barry Keegan

Riley

Frank Lawton

Det. Sgt. Liggot

Michael Trubshawe

Sergeant Golightly

Derek Bond

Det. Sgt. Eric Kirby

Grizelda Hervey

Mrs. Kirby

Henry B. Longhurst

Rev Mr. Courtney
(as Henry Longhurst)

Doreen Madden

Miss Courtney

Jack Watling

Reverend Julian Small

Cyril Cusack

Herbert 'Birdie' Sparrow

Maureen Potter

Mrs. Ethel Sparrow

Donal Donnelly

Feeney

Dervis Ward

Andy 'Simmo' Simpson

Director
- John Ford
Writers
- T.E.B. Clarke
- John Creasey
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Trivia
Filmed in Eastman Color, but re-titled and released in USA in black-and-white.

Goofs
The background scene of London outside Gideon's office windows is actually a miniature set rather than back projected film. This is revealed by the fact that the cars and buses crossing the bridge are clearly small models or toys. In fact in the opening shot of Gideon looking out of his office at night, the miniature is used on its own instead of inserting stock footage, and the model vehicles are particularly noticeable.

Quotes
[Gideon goes to arrest a woman and is confronted by her lover who brandishes his gun at Gideon]
Insp. George Gideon: There's a police car outside with two men in it. And if you were fool enough to fire that gun...
Paul Delafield: I don't see why you should speak in the subjunctive. I *am* going to fire this gun.

Crazy credits
When title music plays "London Bridge is Falling Down" there is a full-screen picture of Tower Bridge.

Connections
Referenced in Ken Adam: Designing Bond (2000)

Gideon of Scotland Yard is a fine 1950s British detective film based on a book by the prolific writer John Creasey. It stars the inimitable Jack Hawkins as the gruff yet likable detective working hard on a number of overlapping cases during a single 24 hours in London. The film was directed by John Ford, of all people, the man best known for his epic American westerns, who brings a kind of slick stylish look to the screen.

The running time flies past because this is a very entertaining movie, one of the fastest-paced films of the 1950s I've seen. There's never a slow moment, just a building of tension, suspense, and yes, humour, which delightfully offsets the darker and more tragic elements of the plot. Watching Hawkins trying to juggle various cases, crimes, criminals, superiors, underlings, and of course his home life, is a sheer delight. An exemplary supporting cast adds to the experience, making this an all-round winner of a film.