King of the Underworld | |
---|---|
Directed by | Victor M. Gover |
Written by | John Gilling |
Produced by | Gilbert Church |
Starring | Tod Slaughter Patrick Barr Tucker McGuire |
Edited by | Helen Wiggins |
Music by | William Trytel |
Production company | Gilbert Church Productions |
Distributed by | Ambassador Film Productions |
Release date |
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Running time | 82 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
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).
A master criminal is hunted by the police after committing a series of crimes.
The film was made at Bushey Studios with sets designed by the art director Don Chaffey.
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]
Patrick David Barr was an English actor. In his career spanning over half a century, he appeared in about 144 films and television series.
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.
The Bank Raiders is a 1958 British second feature crime film directed by Maxwell Munden and starring Peter Reynolds, Sandra Dorne and Lloyd Lamble.
The Girl in the Picture is a 1957 British second feature crime film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Donald Houston and Patrick Holt.
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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.
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.
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".
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).
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.
Anne Tucker McGuire was an American-born actress who appeared largely in British films and television. She married actor Tom Macaulay.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.