Flannelfoot

1953
1h 14m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Mary Germaine, Ronald Howard, and Jack Watling in Flannelfoot (1953)

Thriller about a notorious jewel thief and murderer.Thriller about a notorious jewel thief and murderer.Thriller about a notorious jewel thief and murderer.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.4/10

109

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Featured reviews

6trimmerb1234

So who is the well known face in this smudgy British noir?

It's TV's Diana Coupland (1928-2006) '70s sitcom star and TV regular, appearing in her first film as a night club band singer. What is noticeable is how well she sings. So she should - that was her first career IMDb notes.

Ronald Adam was an excellent actor, frequently cast, and at his best, as an authority figure (Prime Minister in "Seven Days to Noon"). Once at least as baddie mastermind. Here though he is a detective, old enough to be his boss's father. The sight of him apologising to his younger boss "Sorry, Sir, I don't know what came over me" is strange one. I am guessing that this was the only in his career.

Graham Stark plays a convincing professional nark.

The film tries too hard to model itself on its American noir predecessors. Comedy band Bonzo Dog once lampooned slavish imitation of the genre: "Have you got a light, Mack?" "No but I've got a dark brown overcoat" The print shown unfortunately is very soft - if the print had been sharp and sparkling and photography seen to better advantage, I think viewers would have a better opinion of it. As it is, it is the cinematic equivalent of a long rainy afternoon, the sound track even sounds like one.

4JoeytheBrit

Flannelfoot review

A host of suspects fail to enliven this British cheapie in which a police detective searches for the titular master criminal. Some familiar faces amongst the cast, but it's otherwise totally forgettable.

5malcolmgsw

More red herrings than in the North Sea

This is the sort of mystery film where there are more red herrings floating about than in the north sea.It is a complicated,not to say over plotted film.Probably more suited to the cinema than the TV.That is because if your attention is distracted for more than a few seconds then you loose the thread of the plot and it then takes you minutes to catch the thread again.This what happened to me whilst watching this film.I did not manage to guess who the guilty suspect was,so credit to the screenwriters on that point.unusual to see Graham Stark playing a crook,albeit a rather comical one.The film is really not better nor no worse than many similar thrillers that were being made at the same time.

4geoffm60295

Mediocre B Film fails to ignite interest.

A successful jewel thief and murderer keeps Scotland Yard on its toes, as well as on the back foot, as he continues to elude their clutches!! Enter languid, pipe smoking detective, Ronald Howard and his senior colleague, Ronald Howard. Both men seem disinterested and lacking in energy, hence the film plods along, and generally there is far too much talking and a conspicuous lack of action or tension. Most of the scenes are only enlivened by the amount of smoking and drinking which goes on in sitting rooms by various middle class men in suits and the ladies in their cocktail dresses. The storyline meanders aimlessly along, with the result that it robs the film of any direction or purpose. There is no attempt to flesh out any of the characters, who thus come across as unconvincing and one dimensional. This is a dull, low budget B film, which was made as a time filler.

6robert-temple-1

Better than usual British B mystery of the early fifties

There are lots of interesting location shots in this film showing early fifties London, with the scars of bombing still apparent. 'Flannelfoot' is the name given to a jewel thief because he makes no sound with his feet as he slips in and out stealing priceless gems. No one knows who he is, except that he is 'one of us', i.e. of the smart set. There are lots of red herrings, some darker red than others, swimming around in this story, where we are kept guessing until the last. My goodness, the manners and mores of yesteryear! There is one hilarious shot where four men in white dress scarves and black overcoats, clearly men of fashion out on the town for an evening, say 'We had better not call attention to ourselves,' as they seek to investigate the mystery incognito and mix with ordinary folk. Calling Michael Arlen! But this film is amusing and worth watching for those interested in old British movies and what things were like back then.

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Diana Coupland'd debut.

Quotes
Lord Wexford: [he enters the pub] Whisky, please, Miss, large one. 'Pon my soul, if it isn't young Harry Fitzgerald. Well, how are you my boy?
Sgt. Fitzgerald: Lord Wexford, I'm glad to see you again, Sir.
Lord Wexford: Here, have a drink. Fill that up, whatever it is.
Sgt. Fitzgerald: Light ale.
Lord Wexford: Now, where have you been hiding all these years?
Sgt. Fitzgerald: Well, things weren't so good for us after father died so I don't hit the high spots like a used to.
Lord Wexford: Reformed character, eh? Well, here we are,
[he hands Fitzgerald his drink]
Lord Wexford: Well, here's joy.
Sgt. Fitzgerald: Cheers!
Lord Wexford: We couldn't have met at a better time. This is going to be quite a night.
Sgt. Fitzgerald: Oh, yeah?
Lord Wexford: Yes, this is where Fleet Street shows Scotland Yard what's what.
Sgt. Fitzgerald: Oh, really?
Lord Wexford: Yeah, you know what these policemen are - good fellows, conscientious - but solid bone from the neck up.
Sgt. Fitzgerald: Mmm... very solid, yes.
Lord Wexford: Look, keep this to yourself but my friends and I are hoping to pull off something that Scotland Yard has failed to do for months... yes, we're going to lay that scoundrel Flannelfoot by the heels.
Sgt. Fitzgerald: Well, that's most astonishing.
Lord Wexford: You know I have a sort of feeling that Scotland Yard are going to look pretty silly before the night's finished.
[they both laugh]
policeman: Excuse me, Sergeant, Superintendent Carter would like a word with you on the phone.
Sgt. Fitzgerald: Oh, thanks, Pat. Excuse me, won't you, Sir?
Lord Wexford: Superintendent...? Then who...?
policeman: That's Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald, Sir.