GIDEON OF SCOTLAND YARD

UK, 1958, 91 Minutes, Colour.
Jack Hawkins, Diane Foster, Anna Lee, Cyril Cusack, Andrew Ray, James Hayter, Anna Massey, Derek Bond, Frank Lawton, John Loder.
Directed by John Ford.

Gideon of Scotland Yard is an interesting police story. Interesting in the 50s, it now seems somewhat dated since we have become so used to police stories and television series. John Ford, the veteran American director of so many westerns and action films, made this film in England. The incidents in Gideon's day are not particularly outstanding but are well portrayed. Jack Hawkins makes a convincing lead. This was the period when John Ford make such films as The Last Hurrah and The Horse Soldiers.

1. The emphasis of the title, the original tile of Gideon's Day Day? How enjoyable, interesting, a blend of fiction and documentary about the British police?

2. The film reflecting the mid-50s, the presentation of the police and their work, public opinion about the police and their work? The style of Scotland Yard in the 50s? The presentation of police in films and television of the 70s? The presentation of Scotland Yard? What are the main differences in presentation and audience response?

3. How authentic was the London of the film? Use of colour, locations, English character actors, the presentation of work situations, the courts, the policemen's families etc.?

4. The film was directed by John Ford, a veteran American director, especially of westerns. His insight into London and the police? An American view of the English police? Was this evident?

5. How sympathetically were the police presented, the importance of presenting the families, the detail of wife, children, fiancees? The humanity of the dialogue? The intertwining of personal life and routine and home details with the demands of work?

6. How was the film a case-book for police work in the 50s: comment on the interest in the cases, the crimes, the excitement, danger, the routine work? The nature of the demands made on the police, the role of the unexpected?

7. How well delineated were the characters of Kate, Sally, Simon as a member of the family and as a young policeman?

8. The presentation of the characters of the other police, the chiefs and the officials, the men in the office, the men in the street, the men open to corruption? The valour and the courage of the ordinary policeman?

9. The significance of Kirby, the situation of his taking bribes, the tangles, the significance of his death?

10. The presentation of the court case and Gideon's role in this?

11. The impact of the Dellafield case, its background, the two involved, dangers, etc.?

12. The episode of the maniac killer and the potential life and death danger in police work?

13. The contrast with the Society robberies, murders?

14. How well presented was the character of Inspector Gideon, as a man, as a policeman?

15. The insight into police work, a tribute to the police, public respect for them and their work?