The Second Mate

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The Second Mate
The Second Mate film Opening titles (1950).png
Opening titles
Directed by John Baxter
Written by Anson Dyer
Barbara K. Emary
Jack Francis
Geoffrey Orme
Produced byJohn Baxter
Barbara K. Emary
Starring Gordon Harker
Graham Moffatt
Cinematography Arthur Grant
Edited byVi Burdon
Music by Kennedy Russell
Production
company
Elstree Independent Films
Distributed by Associated British-Pathé
Release date
  • 1950 (1950)
Running time
76 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Second Mate is a 1950 British crime film directed by John Baxter and starring Gordon Harker, Graham Moffatt and David Hannaford. [1] [2] It was made at Southall Studios.

Contents

Cast

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The Second Mate is an economically made comedy thriller, designed to introduce the comedy team of Gordon Harker, Graham Moffat and David Hannaford, and made partly on Thames-side locations. The intention is commendable but The Second Mate, unfortunately, suffers from rather inexpert direction, a confused story (slow moving until the final chase scenes) and a comedy technique which relies over much on the familiar mannerisms of Gordon Harker." [3]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Juvenile adventure comedy melodrama. ... it is young David Hannaford's engaging performance in what is tantamount to the lead, and the picturesque backgrounds, rather than the extravagant plot that prevent it from shipping water. Disarmingly ingenuous, it should get over in other than tough joints. Acceptable screen 'children's hour'." [4]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Slow, rather crudely made comedy-thriller that even Harker's experience can't save." [5]

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References

  1. "The Second Mate". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  2. BFI.org
  3. "The Second Mate" . The Monthly Film Bulletin . 18 (204): 220. 1 January 1951 via ProQuest.
  4. "The Second Mate" . Kine Weekly . 436 (2403): 31. 16 July 1953 via ProQuest.
  5. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 370. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.