13 East Street ** (1952, Patrick Holt, Sandra Dorne, Robert Ayres, Sonia Holm, Dora Bryan) – Classic Movie Review 12,945

Robert S Baker’s 1952 British second feature crime thriller film 13 East Street stars English actor Patrick Holt with both his first wife Sonia Holm and his second wife Sandra Dorne.

Director Robert S Baker’s 1952 British second feature crime thriller film 13 East Street stars Patrick Holt and Sandra Dorne, with Sonia Holm, Robert Ayres, Dora Bryan, Michael Balfour, and Michael Brennan

Patrick Holt gives a bland performance at the head of the cast in a complex, if moderately handled filler thriller as Inspector Gerald Blake, a Scotland Yard police detective who poses as an escaped convict to catch a London gang of warehouse robbers. Blake is sent to jail after a botched heist on a gem store, and escapes with Joey Long (Michael Balfour), joining the gang led by Larry Conn (Robert Ayres) and encountering platinum blonde femme fatale Judy (Sandra Dorne) while a hit on a fur store is planned.

Down-the-cast players such as Dora Bryan, Michael Balfour, Michael Brennan, Michael Ward, Harry Towb and Harry Fowler help to keep up the interest in this modest 1950s British crime melodrama from the Robert S Baker/ Monty Berman production team, which at least can boast a lot of elaborate plot thrown into a short running time as well as a good flavour of the austerity Britain of the day.

It is directed by Baker from his own story and co-scripted by him and John Gilling, who went on to direct The Reptile.

It is shot at Alliance Studios, Twickenham, on sets designed by art director Andrew Mazzei. with location shooting around London. It is made as a second feature by Tempean Films and released by Eros Films.

Release date: March 1952.

Running time: 72 minutes.

Patrick Holt (31 January 1912 – 12 October 1993) was married to Sonia Holm, but they divorced a year after filming ​(married 1947; divorced 1953) and he went on to marry Sandra Dorne ​(married 1954; died 1992). All three trained at the Rank Organisation’s Charm School. Holt and Dorne stuck together. Dorne (born 19 June 1924) was married to him until her death on 25 December 1992.

The cast are Patrick Holt as Insp. Gerald Blake, Sandra Dorne as Judy, Sonia Holm as Joan Blake, Robert Ayres as Larry Conn, Dora Bryan as Valerie, Michael Balfour as Joey Long, Hector MacGregor as Superintendent Duncan, Michael Brennan as George Mack, Alan Judd as Sgt Follett, Michael Ward as Barman, Alan Gordon as Murray, Harry Towb as Ray, Frank Forsyth as Prison Officer, Edward Evans as Van Driver, Charles Paton as Jeweller, Barry MacGregor as Boy with football, Andreas Malandrinos as Café Owner, John Warren as Scotty, and Harry Fowler (uncredited).

13 East Street is directed by Robert S Baker, runs 72 minutes, is made by Tempean Films, is released by Eros Films, is written by Robert S Baker (original story), John Gilling (screenplay) and Carl Nystrom (adaptation), is shot in black and white by Monty Berman, is produced by Robert S Baker and Monty Berman, is score by John Lanchbery, and designed by Andrew Mazzei.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,945

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