King of the Underworld (1952 film)

Last updated

King of the Underworld
King of the Underworld film frame (1952).png
Frame from the film
Directed by Victor M. Gover
Written by John Gilling
Produced byGilbert Church
Starring Tod Slaughter
Patrick Barr
Tucker McGuire
Edited by Helen Wiggins
Music by William Trytel
Production
company
Gilbert Church Productions
Distributed byAmbassador Film Productions
Release date
  • July 1952 (1952-07)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

King of the Underworld is a 1952 British crime film directed by Victor M. Gover and starring Tod Slaughter, Patrick Barr and Tucker McGuire. [1] It was written by John Gilling. It was followed by a sequel Murder at Scotland Yard (1953).

Contents

Plot

A master criminal is hunted by the police after committing a series of crimes.

Cast

Production

The film was made at Bushey Studios with sets designed by the art director Don Chaffey.

Critical reception

Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture is tongue-in-the-cheek stuff ... 'Sweeny Tod' Slaughter delivers every menacing line with obvious relish and is both amusing and effectively sinister as Riley, and the rest keep in step. King of the Underworld should be a crowning success with avid readers of penny dreadfuls." [2]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Slight change of pace for barnstorming star, but film not widely shown." [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Barr</span> English actor (1908–1985)

Patrick David Barr was an English actor. In his career spanning over half a century, he appeared in about 144 films and television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tod Slaughter</span> English actor (1885–1956)

Norman Carter Slaughter, also known as Tod Slaughter, was an English actor, best known for playing over-the-top maniacs in macabre film adaptations of Victorian melodramas.

<i>The Bank Raiders</i> 1958 British film by Maxwell Munden

The Bank Raiders is a 1958 British second feature crime film directed by Maxwell Munden and starring Peter Reynolds, Sandra Dorne and Lloyd Lamble.

<i>The Girl in the Picture</i> (1957 film) 1957 British film by Don Chaffey

The Girl in the Picture is a 1957 British second feature crime film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Donald Houston and Patrick Holt.

<i>The Flying Squad</i> (1940 film) 1940 British film

The Flying Squad, also known as Edgar Wallace's The Flying Squad is a 1940 British crime film directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Sebastian Shaw, Phyllis Brooks and Jack Hawkins. It was based on a 1928 novel by Edgar Wallace, which had been previously filmed under the same title in 1929 (silent) and 1932.

<i>Its Never Too Late</i> (1956 film) 1956 British film by Michael McCarthy

It's Never Too Late is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Michael McCarthy and starring Phyllis Calvert, Patrick Barr, Susan Stephen and Guy Rolfe. It was written by Edward Dryhurst based on the 1952 play of the same name by Felicity Douglas.

<i>Time Is My Enemy</i> 1954 British film by Don Chaffey

Time Is My Enemy is a 1954 British crime film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Dennis Price, Renée Asherson and Patrick Barr.

<i>The Narrowing Circle</i> 1956 British film by Charles Saunders

The Narrowing Circle is a 1956 British crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Paul Carpenter, Hazel Court and Russell Napier. It is based on the 1954 novel of the same title by Julian Symons. A crime writer finds himself framed for murder.

<i>Circumstantial Evidence</i> (1952 film) 1952 British film by Daniel Birt

Circumstantial Evidence is a 1952 British crime film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Rona Anderson, Patrick Holt and Frederick Leister. It was made as a supporting feature.

<i>Murder at 3am</i> 1953 film by Francis Searle

Murder at 3 a.m. is a 1953 British crime film second feature directed by Francis Searle and starring Dennis Price, Peggy Evans and Rex Garner. A Scotland Yard detective investigates a series of attacks on women.

<i>Hammer the Toff</i> 1952 British film by Maclean Rogers

Hammer the Toff is a 1952 British second feature crime film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring John Bentley and Patricia Dainton. The film was based on the 1947 novel of the same name by John Creasey, the 17th in the series featuring upper-class sleuth Richard Rollinson, also known as "The Toff".

<i>Murder at Scotland Yard</i> 1953 British film by Victor M. Gover

Murder at Scotland Yard is 1953 British crime film directed by Victor M. Gover and starring Tod Slaughter, Patrick Barr and Tucker McGuire. It is a sequel to King of the Underworld (1952).

<i>The Frightened Man</i> 1952 British film by John Gilling

The Frightened Man is a 1952 British second feature crime film directed and written by John Gilling and starring Dermot Walsh, Barbara Murray and Charles Victor. An antiques dealer suffers a dramatic fall from grace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tucker McGuire</span> American actress (1913–1988)

Anne Tucker McGuire was an American-born actress who appeared largely in British films and television. She married actor Tom Macaulay.

<i>Operation Murder</i> 1957 British film by Ernest Morris

Operation Murder is a 1957 British 'B' crime film directed by Ernest Morris and starring Tom Conway, Patrick Holt and Sandra Dorne. It was written by Brian Clemens and produced by the Danzinger brothers.

<i>Dial 999</i> (1955 film) 1956 film directed by Montgomery Tully

Dial 999 is a 1955 British 'B' movie crime drama film directed and written by Montgomery Tully and starring Gene Nelson, Mona Freeman and John Bentley. It was based on the novel of the same name by Bruce Graeme. Produced by Todon Productions, it was shot at the Merton Park Studios in London. RKO Radio Pictures purchased the rights to distribute it in the United States, where it was released in cut form on 11 April 1956.

<i>Johnny on the Spot</i> 1954 British film by Maclean Rogers

Johnny on the Spot is a 1954 British 'B' crime drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Hugh McDermott, Elspet Gray and Paul Carpenter. It was written by Rogers based on the 1953 novel Paid in Full by Michael Cronin.

<i>My Death Is a Mockery</i> 1952 British film by Tony Young

My Death Is a Mockery is a 1952 British second feature ('B') crime film directed by Tony Young and starring Donald Houston, Kathleen Byron and Bill Kerr. It was written by Douglas Baber from his novel of the same name.

<i>Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard</i> 1939 British film

Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard is a 1939 British comedy-drama film directed by Fred Elles starring Mary Clare in her only title role and Nigel Patrick in his film debut. It is based on the Mrs Pym novels by Nigel Morland, and written by Morland, who re-used the title for a 1946 book.

<i>The Hangman Waits</i> 1947 British film

The Hangman Waits is a 1947 British thriller film written, directed and produced by A. Barr Smith, starring Beatrice Campbell and John Turnbull. Shot documentary-style, the film tells the story of a murderer who comes to a grisly end.

References

  1. "King of the Underworld". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  2. "King of the Underworld". Kinematograph Weekly: 22. 26 June 1952 via ProQuest.
  3. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 334. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.