It’s The Daily
Constitutional Film Festival. And it’s programmed by London Walks Guides and
London Walkers. Which is the greatest London movie of them all? The best
performance in a London-set film? Your favorite London movie location?
As usual, we want to hear from you – send us your favorite London movie nominations to the usual email address, get in touch with us on Twitter @londonwalks or leave a comment at the bottom of this post.
It’s the return of LW movie expert Richard IV…
No. 25: The Long Arm (1956)
One of the later offerings from Ealing
Studios, billed as ‘The true inside story of Scotland Yard’s Crime Busters!’ A
minor classic with Jack Hawkins as the embodiment of good-humoured integrity (a
family man, with Dorothy Alison as his long-suffering but devoted wife, the
sort of chap who has a sandwich and a pint of beer at lunch), filmed with the
assistance of the Chief Commissioner of the Met with excellent location work.
From the atmospheric opening shot of New Scotland Yard from Westminster Bridge
at night, to the film’s climax at the then-new Royal Festival Hall (looking
very isolated without any of the later structures—Hayward Gallery, BFI,
etc—that now surround it), a cracking London film. A suspect is tailed around
London (near the Tower, on Pall Mall), the old General Register Office at Somerset
House is visited by Hawkins, a train journey ends at Euston Station. The plot
is set in motion by a robbery at ‘Stone & Co.’ on Long Acre (the same
building where the Itsu restaurant now occupies the ground floor). Hawkins
lives in pleasant suburban Bromely. Lovely attention to detail throughout (the
views of County Hall and the distant City through the windows of the
studio-recreated Yard offices, for example). Assured direction from Charles
Frend, who previously helmed other Ealing classics such as Scott of the
Antarctic and The Cruel Sea. It follows the police procedure in a
near-documentary style, has some fairly gritty moments, but never becomes
tedious, thanks in part to a lively supporting cast (John Stratton, Geoffrey
Keen, Glyn Houston, a young Ian Bannen).
Richard IV Richard IV is an actor, swordsman and an expert on early detective fiction. Velvety voiced and perfect timing, he makes for some awfully handsome listening! No surprise to learn that he's narrated numerous documentaries and audiobooks.
Forthcoming Film Walks with London Walks… Alfred Hitchcock's London on September 22, from Holborn underground, both at 10.45; and London on Film on August 25, Bank underground exit 3 at 10.45.
You can also book a private London Film Locations walk by calling London Walks on 020 7624 3978 or emailing [email protected].
A London Walk costs £9 – £7 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
