Hide and Seek *** (1972, Peter Newby, Gary Kemp, Robin Askwith, Liz Fraser, Terence Morgan, David Lodge) – Classic Movie Review 11,411

Hide and Seek (1972) stars Robin Askwith as Fake Police Constable and Alan Lake as Fake Police Sergeant Lorrimer.

Director David Eady’s 1972 entertaining, nostalgic British children’s drama Hide and Seek, made by Eady-Barnes Productions for the Children’s Film Foundation, stars Peter Newby, Gary Kemp, Robin Askwith, Alan Lake, Liz Fraser, Terence Morgan and David Lodge.

Peter Newby stars as Keith Lawson, aka the Deptford Dodger, a runaway from Borstal intent on joining his dad Ted Lawson (Terence Morgan), who has written a letter telling him he is leaving England for Canada. He looks for his dad in a partly abandoned area of London named Deptford, squatting in an empty basement flat and going out to steal food.

Two local children find out about him and help him find out that his dad is at a nearby demolition site, planning a heist, and has dug a tunnel into a bank to steal millions of pounds. He has a pair of accomplices dressed up as fake policemen (Robin Askwith as Fake Police Constable and Alan Lake as Fake Police Sergeant Lorrimer).

Alan Lake and Robin Askwith in Hide and Seek (1972).

The screenplay is by the producer Michael Barnes, based on an idea by Roy Brown.

Hide and Seek is filmed on location in Deptford, south-east London.

The Duchess of Kent attended the film’s Royal premiere for the Children’s Film Foundation’s 21st anniversary.

The unusually starry cast are Peter Newby as Keith Lawson, Gary Kemp as Chris Barker, Eileen Fletcher as Beverley Dickie, Robin Askwith as Fake Police Constable, Alan Lake as Fake Police Sergeant Lorrimer, Roger Avon as First workman, Richard Coleman as Police sergeant, Frances Cuka as Mrs Dickie, Roy Dotrice as Mr Grimes, Liz Fraser as Audrey Lawson, Godfrey James as Police Constable Dickie, David Lodge as Baker, Alfred Marks as Butcher, Terence Morgan as Ted Lawson, Johnny Shannon as Wykes, Bernard Spear as Fruit Vendor, and Graham Stark as Milkman.

Danny Baker lived in the house where Mr and Mrs Lawson live.

It is showing on Saturday 24 July 2021 at 9:50am on SATURDAY MORNING PICTURES on Talking Pictures TV.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,411

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