The popular BBC Radio bobby on the beat. P.C.49, is given the chance to do a spot of plain clothed sleuthing in his screen debut. Taking the identity of a dead criminal, he tours transport cafes(!) in search of a gang of particularly nasty armed robbers. He eventually bumps into shady character Fingers, who introduces him to the villainous Barney, a top member of the gang. But 49 has bigger fish to fry – he is after the ringleader, a mysterious figure known only as “The Boss”. Will our pal Archibald and his plucky girlfriend Joan survive the dangers ahead?
Trailer by The Hammer Graveyard
Production Details
A Hammer production released by Exclusive Films
Recorded by United Programmes
Black & White 67 minutes
Filming Dates: 7th February – 18 March 1949
UK Release: 2nd January 1950
Filming:
Dial Close Court, Winter Hill, Cookham , Berkshire – Studio
Queen Street , Maidenhead, Berkshire – Car approaches Archie at the beginning
Brock Lane, Maidenhead, Berkshire – Gates of Cullans warehouse
Gerrards Cross, (Junction with A40 and A332), Buckinghamshire – Fingerpost where Archie begins reconnaissance of Kelly
High Street, Cookham, Berkshire – Archie walks with Fingers
Stomp Road, Burnham, Buckinghamshire – Joan meets Archie as he leaves the Police Station
Stills from film
Click an image for enlarged slideshow
Cast & Crew
Cast – Complete awaiting verification
Crew – Believed complete
Original Poster
Click image to enlarge
Footnotes
This is the second Hammer film to feature Michael Ripper, the first being The Dark Road (1948). Ripper became one of the mainstays of the Company’s supporting cast and holds the record for the Hammer actor appearing in the most of their productions – 34 (plus 2 uncredited).
Patricia Cutts appears to have fled the country after this film, popping up years later as Vincent Price’s faithless wife in William Castle’s notorious 1959 shocker The Tingler.
Two other regular names turn up for the first time here – Phil Leakey, later responsible for some memorable gruesome make-up creations, and Moray Grant, Camera Operator and, later, a Director of Photography.
Actress Annette Simmonds was killed in a road accident on the A1 Barnet Way to the north of London, on 28th October 1959. She was 32.