HELL IS A CITY

UK, 1960, 93 minutes, Black-and-white.
Stanley Baker, John Crawford, Donald Pleasence, Maxine Audrey, Billie Whitelaw, Joseph Tomelty, George A. Cooper, Vanda Godsell, Charles Morgan, Lois Daine.
Directed by Val Guest

Hell is a City is well worth seeing, a reminder of the strong British dramas of the 1950s, comparatively small budgets, often released as supporting features, but standing the test of time very well.

The film was directed by Val Guest who made quite a range of genre films over the years. He also wrote the screenplay which won a BAFTA award. The film was shot in the city of Manchester, using the locations to great effect, black-and-white photography, police precincts, the surrounding countryside, pubs and homes and quite a spectacular finale and chase on the roofs of buildings.

Stanley Baker was a strong screen presence at this time and portrays a detective, rather hard-boiled, married but spending little time with his wife, investigating an escaped criminal with whom he grew up, investigating a robbery and a consequent murder. He is out and about, has a good squad to whom he delegates work, does interrogations.

The film has a great advantage of a number of British character actors, some of them at the beginning of their careers like Donald Pleasance, Billie Whitelaw.

A very interesting variation on British police investigations.

1. The UK, the 1950s and 1960, small film, thriller, police investigation? Awards and acclaim?

2. The director, the variety of his work, the cast and character actors?

3. Manchester, the city locations, black-and-white photography, the streets, police precincts, homes, pubs, the roofs? Detailed and authentic? The jazz score?

4. The police, their work, personnel, investigations, leads, authorities, decisions, action? Delegation, dangers? Routines and opportunities?

5. Stanley Baker as Martineau, his age, experience, status of his career, his contacts, his private life, the formalities with his wife, being away, yet his love for her, the temptation with Lucky? His final decisions?

6. Don Starling, growing up with Martineau, his past, crimes, the robbery and the jewels, prison, escape from prison, wanting to recover his jewels and finding them again? The return to Manchester, the various contacts and wanting help, phoning Lucky, Furniture Steele and his deaf-mute daughter? The relationship with Chloe, and the pressure on her?

7. The robbery, the money, the murdered girl, clutching the money? The dye on the bank notes? The pursuit, finding the car, the body, the group changing cars, the drive in the taxi, merging with the crowds? Going to the illegal gambling venue? Laundering the money, the group, the member of the group and his lacking caution, wilful, the money and the dye?

8. The investigation about the girl, Gus Hawkins, his whereabouts, the office, his relationship with Chloe? His return home, Chloe and the range of men? Starling arriving, hiding in the attic? Hawkins arriving home, the night, hearing the noise?

9. Martineau going to the pub, Savage and his managing, the conversations, Lucky working there? Going to the two-up game, the police arriving, everybody running, the arrests, interrogating Savage? The pressure on him, giving a name?

10. Lucky, the pub, the attraction to Martineau, the offer?

11. Chloe, her personality, interviewed by Martineau?

12. The characters of subordinate offices, their personalities, their work, contribution to the case?

13. Starling, going to confront Steele, getting the jewels back, the encounter with his daughter, the chase and the fight?

14. The final lead, Martineau chasing Starling on the roof, their rivalry, the tensions, the dangers, Starling and his death?

15. Martineau wounded, recovering, on leave, walk in the city, the decisions about his future?