Stryker of the Yard

Stryker of the Yard
Directed byArthur Crabtree
Written byLester Powell
Guy Morgan
StarringClifford Evans
Susan Stephen
Jack Watling
Music byLambert Williamson
Production
company
Running time
67 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Stryker of the Yard (also known as Stryker of Scotland Yard, Scotland Yard Cases and Inspector Stryker) is a 1953 British second feature ('B')[1] crime film directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Clifford Evans, Susan Stephen, Jack Watling and Eliot Makeham.[2][3] It was written by Lester Powell and Guy Morgan.

The film comprises two episodes of the British television series Stryker of the Yard, edited together: "The Case of the Studio Payroll" and "The Case of Uncle Henry". A second compilation film, Companions in Crime, followed in 1954.[4]

TV series

The 15-episode TV series, starring Evans, George Woodbridge, and Tim Turner[5] was produced by William N. Boyle in 1953–1954 and broadcast in the U.S. by ABC in 1957, and in Britain by ATV in 1962–1963.[1][6] Host Tom Fallon introduced each episode, and at the end of each story intoned: "And it just goes to show that crime does not pay."[5] The episode "The Case of Uncle Henry" is believed lost.[7]

Cast

(1) refers to "The Case of the Studio Payroll"; (2) refers to "The Case of Uncle Henry".

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "To give this 'double-decker' a convincing appearance, it is introduced by an ex-Scotland Yard officer. This, however, cannot cover up the improbable plots and poor script. Not even the conscientious playing – notably by Eliot Makeham as Uncle Henry – succeeds in bringing the film to life."[8]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Light-hearted, light-weight sleuthing; only Makeham brings it to life."[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 228. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ^ "Stryker of the Yard". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Stryker of the Yard (1953)". Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.
  4. ^ "Companions in Crime (1954)". Archived from the original on 2 October 2016.
  5. ^ a b "CTVA UK – "Stryker Of The Yard" (UK theatrical 1953-54) Clifford Evans, George Woodbridge".
  6. ^ "Stryker of Scotland Yard". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016.
  7. ^ "STRYKER OF THE YARD [ITV, 1961-62]". lostshows.com. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Stryker of the Yard". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 21 (240): 28. 1 January 1954 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 382. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.


Stub icon

This article related to a British film of the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This 1950s crime film-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.