The Adventures of PC 49 *** (1949, Hugh Latimer, John Penrose, Annette D Simmonds) – Classic Movie Review 5080

Director Godfrey Grayson’s 1949 British second feature thriller 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 and infiltrates the gang of lorry hijackers to discover who the boss is before they uncover him.

It is delicious stuff, full of Forties-style slang, atmosphere and fisticuffs. 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.

Also in the cast are John Penrose, Annette D Simmonds, Pat Nye, Patricia Cutts, Michael Ripper (as Fingers), Martin Benson, Arthur Brander, Billy Thatcher and Eric Phillips.

It runs just 67 minutes, is written by Alan Stranks and Vernon Harris (based on their radio series), shot in black and white by Cedric Williams, produced by Anthony Hinds, scored by Frank Spencer and designed by James Marchant.

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 5080

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