The Adventures of PC 49 *** (1949, Hugh Latimer, John Penrose, Annette D Simmonds) – Classic Movie Review 5,080

Hammer Films’ 1949 British second feature thriller film The Adventures of PC 49 is a fun adaptation of the popular BBC radio serial of the late Forties and early Fifties. Hugh Latimer stars as the cockney copper.

Director Godfrey Grayson’s 1949 British second feature thriller film The Adventures of PC 49 is a fun Hammer Films studio adaptation of the popular BBC radio serial of the late Forties and early Fifties.

Hugh Latimer plays the famous British radio hero, copper PC 49, aka London bobby Police Constable Archibald Berkeley-Willoughby, tracking down lorry loads of stolen cigarettes and export whisky among the capital’s transport café low-life. He goes undercover under the alias of Vince Kelly, and infiltrates the gang of lorry hijackers to try to discover who the boss is before they uncover him.

But suspicious Skinny Ellis (Martin Benson), one of the gang members, recognises him as a policeman, and he’s going to need the help of his girlfriend Joan Carr (Patricia Cutts) to survive and bring the gang to justice.

It is delicious, involvingly plotted stuff, racing along in just 67 minutes, full of Forties-style slang, atmosphere and fisticuffs, and even gunplay, but also unfortunately some silly comedy, particularly at the ending. Ah, those were the days! It is welcome reminder that Hammer started off making cinema versions of popular radio and TV programmes before it became the House of Horror.

Hugh Latimer is good, quite imperious and commanding, though way too posh speaking for the role of cockney copper, and his lowlife undercover voice is equally unconvincing. He sticks out like a sore thumb in lorry drivers’ cafés. Patricia Cutts (daughter of the writer-director Graham Cutts), is good too, quite lively and entertaining. Michael Ripper (notable as Fingers) and Martin Benson are amusing villains.

Also in the cast are John Penrose, Annette D Simmonds, Pat Nye, Patricia Cutts, Michael Ripper, Martin Benson, Arthur Brander, Billy Thatcher, Eric Phillips, and Jim O’Brady.

The Adventures of PC 49 is directed by Godfrey Grayson, runs just 67 minutes, is made by Hammer Films, is released by Exclusive Films, is written by Alan Stranks and Vernon Harris (based on their radio series), is shot in black and white by Cedric Williams, is produced by Anthony Hinds, is scored by Frank Spencer, and is designed by James Marchant.

Release date: 23 July 1949.

It is aka The Adventures of P.C. 49 Investigating the Case of the Guardian Angel (the full on-screen title).

It was a hit for Hammer, who followed it with a sequel: A Case for PC 49 (1951), with Brian Reece, who played PC 49 on the radio.

It is Ripper’s first of 33 Hammer films over 23 years up to That’s Your Funeral (1972).

The BBC radio series began in 1947 and lasted till 1953, with 112 episodes made, though only two are known to have survived in the BBC Archives.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5,080

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