krocheav I had avoided this film, mainly because of the male lead. While Bonar Colleano (son of an Australian Circus family) executes his role as an over confident small time American smuggler admirably, I can't help feeling this film needed a star of more international renown. Perhaps Richard Widmark, or Howard Keel (both had made dramas in England) would have given the film a wider appeal. In real life, Colleano eventually married his pretty co star Susan Shaw, who sadly fell to drink following Bonar's tragic death in an auto accident, at only 34. The support cast are all hard workers and ensure you quickly get caught up in the action. Award nominated writers, John Eldridge (who also died young at 42 due to bad health) and Jack Whittingham (A.K.F. The Divided Heart '54, Mandy '52) weave a fast moving story, leading the viewer down an eternally twisting path that's peopled by an interesting assortment of characters. Bermudian born Earl Cameron scores in his first major dramatic part, he's the lonely seaman, tired of bouts of racial abuse, then finally being 'set-up' in a vicious heist. It's a pity that fine character actor Lawrence Naismith (Amazing Mr Blunden) is wasted in a very small role as a bigoted racist. Excellent Director: Basil Deardon (The Blue Lamp '50, Sapphire '59) uses many unique locations (most now gone due to the 'Docklands' re-development) to marvelous advantage. His Director of Photography: Gordon Dines, turns in striking visuals, matching Deardon's flair, with one top sequence following another...through to the exciting finale.John Adison's music score sets off well, with an off beat dramatic style for the Main Title, although this unfortunately gives way to some conventional background scoring. Not quite up to his 1956 'Reach for the Sky', or 61's 'A Taste of Honey'. This film should be far better known ~ any lover of British crime dramas should not be disappointed. Unfortunately, I saw this film on local TV (Gem Australia with their way too BIG, way too bright 'PINK' logo, etc - will they ever wake up?) but, I'm told the recently released DVD quality is good. Any Tram enthusiast wanting to see a round cornered, double decker English Tram, has got to own this title.

christopher-underwood Quite splendid and surprisingly good British film with marvellous and evocative location shooting, mainly in and around the Tower Bridge and the docks. Fast moving, with decent story, well acted and directed, I am amazed I have never come across this before. Living in Greenwich, I was particularly thrilled to see a sequence shot in the Maritime Museum plus a shot which included a glimpse of what looked like a derelict observatory, certainly not surrounded by tourists as it is today. Also great to see the power station billowing smoke and absolutely no docklands development beyond. Earl Cameron plays the West Indian sailor who is shown getting pretty close to the action, even if he is considered, 'Just like all the rest.' Good to see he has continued to work right up to the present. Unlike the co-lead, very popular in his day apparently, Bonar Colleano, who died in a motor accident eight years after making this. Not a 'noir' as some have suggested, but a rattling good yarn and if you are interested in a glimpse of early post-war London, trams and all, this is a must.

gordonl56 Pool of London – 1951 Bonar Colleano headlines this first rate noir from the U.K. Colleano is a crewman on a ship doing the London to Holland run. He supplements his wages with a bit of smuggling, cigarettes, nylons, a couple of bottles of brandy and the like. After he drops off his new batch of smokes with his contact, he is asked if he would be interested in some "real cash". All he has to do is drop off a cigarette case sized package to an address in Holland next trip. Colleano agrees to the deal and then hits the bars for a few with his girl, Moria Lister. What he does not know is that he is moving the proceeds of a diamond robbery where a night watchman had been killed. Lister, who made a career out of playing shrew like wives and the like, soon talks Colleano into looking in the package. Once Colleano sees the diamonds he realizes he is in over his head. What is he to do? He talks one of his crew-mates, Earl Cameron, into taking the package on board. Of course the whole thing starts to unravel when Lister's eavesdropping sister blabs to the police. Then Colleano's ship is held in port by police and custom's officers. The Police are waiting for Bonar to show so they can arrest him. The mob behind the robbery then grab him up for a small talk as to why his ship is crawling with John Law. Shoved into a car at the end of a gun he is "asked" to return the diamonds. He can't since he has already given them to Cameron. This leads to a less than friendly exchange where Colleano collects a bullet in the shoulder before making an escape. He heads for his ship to stop his friend Cameron from boarding the ship. Colleano knows the police will search Cameron and assume he was in on the deal. Colleano gets there just in time, collects the package from Cameron and turns himself over to the police. All he had wanted to do was make a few bucks. A much better film than I make it sound. Rest of the cast includes J.R. Justice, Susan Shaw, Leslie Phillips, Michael Golden, Johnny Longren, Victor Maddren, Ian Bannen and Alfie Bass. The film was directed by Basil Deardon. Deardon helmed several very good UK noir, CAGE OF GOLD, SAPPHIRE, NOWHERE TO GO, THE GENTLE GUNMAN. The D of P was Gordon Dines who worked on THE BLUE LAMP, THE LONG ARM, TRAIN OF EVENTS and the great ww2 film THE CRUEL SEA. Colleano was an American born actor who appeared in noir such as INTERPOL, ESCAPE BY NIGHT, GOOD TIME GIRL, WANTED FOR MURDER and JOE MACBETH. (b/w)

bob4kate This is a much overlooked and underrated Ealing gem. It features fine performances by Bonar Colleano and Earl Cameron as his friend and ship-mate. Cameron's performance is an important and groundbreaking one for a black actor in a British movie. The location shots of post-war London are wonderful. I thoroughly commend this movie