tombancroft2

Others have covered the plot line and other details about this movie, which I have seen on TV a number of times. I am always puzzled by the casting. The most glaring example of an actress being miscast is Beryl Reid playing one of the teeny bopper fans of crooner, Ronnie Baker (Denis Lotis). Reid was 37 when this film was made, and it shows. Denis Lotis was around 31 years old. He was always in the shadow of superior American crooners. Although he was promoted as a bit of a heartthrob, scenes of him being mobbed by hoards of teenage girls are over exaggerated. Soon after this film was made, he was blown out of the water by the gathering rock 'n' roll phenomenon. British stars such as Cliff Richard, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, etc., really did have screaming girls in their audience, and Lotis became a 'square'.

Others have reviewed and given the story line of this film. I merely post to confirm that the film is still shown on Sky TV channels in the UK. Watched it just yesterday (3/1/2019) on the "Talking Pictures" channel. I'd not seen it for a while, and I found it quite enjoyable, having forgotten a few scenes. Worth a watch if you see it come round again.

Another of the entertaining Merton Park releases, loosely based on Edgar Wallace stories, that were shown before the main feature in the 60s. Many of the actors in these films went on to bigger things, some were destined to make a good living playing supporting roles and some didn't progress at all. In this film, the one and only Michael Caine plays Paddy, one of a group of crooks who steal the keys to a jewellery shop from the elderly shop assistant after she's locked up for the night, accidentally killing her. Although IMDb has Caine near the top of the cast list, his role is fairly minor, played with a brave attempt at an Irish accent. As usual for these films, the plot is quite intriguing and Glyn Houston as Inspector Sparrow puts in a credible performance as he tries to track down the thieves despite his superior's wishes that he should call in Scotland Yard to help. Nothing is quite what it seems and this turns out to be more than a straightforward robbery.