Code of Scotland Yard

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Code of Scotland Yard
"Code of Scotland Yard" (1947).jpg
French poster by Boris Grinsson
Directed by George King
Screenplay by Reginald Long
Katherine Strueby
Based on The Shop at Sly Corner by Edward Percy
Produced byGeorge King
Starring Oskar Homolka
Muriel Pavlow
Derek Farr
Cinematography Hone Glendinning
Edited by Manuel del Campo
Music by George Melachrino
Production
company
Pennant Pictures
Distributed by British Lion Films (UK)
Release date
  • 10 March 1947 (1947-03-10)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguagesEnglish, Italian
Budget£76,715 [1]
Box office£140,694 (UK) [2]

Code of Scotland Yard is a 1947 British crime film directed by George King and starring Oskar Homolka, Muriel Pavlow and Derek Farr. It was originally released as The Shop at Sly Corner, being based on the popular stage play of that title by Edward Percy. [3] [4]

Contents

Synopsis

A French antique dealer lives a comfortable life in London. He cares only for his daughter, who is trying to become a professional concert violinist. When his shop assistant discovers that much of his money comes from fencing stolen goods he attempts to blackmail the Frenchman.

Cast

Original play

The film was based on a play by Edward Percy, a Conservative MP. [5] It debuted in London in May 1945. Variety called it "good theatre". [6]

It ran for over two years. [7] The London production only cost $12,000 and made a sizeable profit for its investors. [8]

The play was produced on Broadway with Boris Karloff in 1949 but only ran seven performances. [9]

BBC TV version

The play was adapted for BBC TV in 1946. [10]

Production

Film rights were bought by British Lion in May 1945. [11] It would be one of the first three films made by Alexander Korda under his new deal with British Lion, the others being A Man about the House and Nightbeat.

Oscar Homolka was imported from the USA to star. [12]

George King was to make A Lady was to Die but delayed that to make this movie. Filming started at 6 August 1946. [13] It was shot at Isleworth Studios. [14] The film's sets were designed by the art director Bernard Robinson.

It was the film debut of Diana Dors. According to film reviewer Stephen Vagg, "The part was an ideal way to start out – the girlfriend of a slimy blackmailer – and Diana had 'it' from the start; looks, warmth, appeal". [15]

Muriel Pavlow and Derek Farr, who played lovers in the film, were married shortly after filming. [16]

Critical reception

Variety reported that the "film gathers pace and is truly cinematic in the second half, but the first part is deadly slow and too explanatory without explaining much. More, too, should have been made of the romance between the two young lovers." [17] TV Guide described it as an "interesting melodrama rich with character, thanks to the excellent performance by Homolka and a uniformly fine British cast." [18]

Box Office

As of 30 June 1949 the film earned £124,197 in the UK of which £92,877 went to the producer. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 354
  2. ↑ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p483
  3. ↑ "The Shop at Sly Corner". IMDb . 24 October 1948.
  4. ↑ "Code of Scotland Yard (1947) – Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Playwrights' Pleas for Tax Aid". The Age . No. 28, 442. Victoria, Australia. 21 June 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 21 July 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ Review of 1945 London play at Variety
  7. ↑ "Theatre Slumps In Britain: Plea For Tax Cut". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 34, 161. 18 June 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 21 July 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ LOUIS CALTA (28 June 1947). "Robert Reud Plans Production of 'O Coward Heart' and 'Duet for Two Hands'". New York Times. p. 10.
  9. ↑ LOUIS CALTA (20 January 1949). "KARLOFF VEHICLE CLOSES SATURDAY: 'Shop at Sly Corner' to End After 7 Performances -- 'Mr. Meadowbrook' to Leave". New York Times. p. 34.
  10. ↑ "AUTHORS COMPLAIN OF "NIGGARDLY" BROADCAST FEES: B.B.C. STATEMENT B.B.C. Says Higher Terms Are to be Offered". The Manchester Guardian. 30 May 1947. p. 5.
  11. ↑ "Chatter". Variety. 2 May 1945. p. 63.
  12. ↑ "Hollywood stars form a colony in England". The Australian Women's Weekly . Vol. 14, no. 15. 21 September 1946. p. 40. Retrieved 21 July 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "London". Variety. 24 July 1946. p. 63.
  14. ↑ "Time slowed its march". The Daily Telegraph . Vol. VII, no. 46. New South Wales, Australia. 29 September 1946. p. 29. Retrieved 21 July 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  15. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (7 September 2020). "A Tale of Two Blondes: Diana Dors and Belinda Lee". Filmink.
  16. ↑ "Film Stars Married". Morning Bulletin . No. 26, 710. Queensland, Australia. 27 January 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 21 July 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  17. ↑ Review of film at Variety
  18. ↑ "Code Of Scotland Yard Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
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