The Siege of Sidney Street *** (1960, Donald Sinden, Peter Wyngarde, Nicole Berger, Kieron Moore) – Classic Movie Review 6584

Directors Robert S Baker and Monty Berman’s 1960 historical film about the once famous London East End gunfight battle between armed British police (and army) and Russian anarchists in January of 1911 is a solid rather than inspired drama, taking many liberties with the complicated issues of the real-life story.

That story and the characters and their motives are simplified and the handling is plodding. But the fascinating premise, punchy plot and strong acting performances carry it.

There are especially very decent lead performances by Donald Sinden as Inspector Mannering, who masquerades as a crook to break the gang, and by Peter Wyngarde as the anarchists’ leader, Peter the Painter.

Nicole Berger plays the main female character, Sara, a Russian orphan-singer, picked up by Peter the Painter.

Also in the cast are Kathryn McGuire, Kieron Moore, Leonard Sachs, Tutte Lemkow, Angela Newman, T P McKenna, Maurice Good, James Caffrey, Harold Goldblatt, Godfrey Quigley, Bart Bastable, George Pastell, Harry Brogan and Christopher Casson as the Police Commissioner.

It is written by Jimmy Sangster and Alexander Baron, shot in black and white by Robert S Baker and Monty Berman, and scored by Stanley Black.

This very London project was shot at Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, and in Dublin.

Writer Jimmy Sangster gives his only acting performance ever here, as Winston Churchill, referred to only as the Home Secretary. Churchill’s gung-ho decision to send in armed police remained controversial all his life.

Sinden recalled: ‘We filmed the scene in the blazing room in the studio and I was vastly intrigued to watch the way the special effects department created the illusion. They began by making everything on set completely fireproof. It was set alight. It was remarkable. Nothing was damaged.’

RIP Peter Wyngarde, who died on 15 January 2018, aged 90. He was most famous for his Jason King (1971-1972) TV series, but he also starred in The Innocents, Night of the Eagle [Burn, Witch, Burn!] and Flash Gordon.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6584

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Home Secretary Winston Churchill at the real-life Siege of Sidney Street.