IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
The murder of a young woman in London exposes deep racial tensions and prejudices inherent in the area.The murder of a young woman in London exposes deep racial tensions and prejudices inherent in the area.The murder of a young woman in London exposes deep racial tensions and prejudices inherent in the area.
- Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 3 wins & 4 nominations total
Thomas Baptiste
- Man on the Street
- (uncredited)
Victor Brooks
- Police Sergeant
- (uncredited)
Marie Burke
- Second landlady
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe success of this movie, in spite of its controversial themes, encouraged Janet Green to write Victim (1961), and Basil Dearden to direct it.
- GoofsThe ripped photo used as a clue appears in two versions from the first time it's discovered. The first version shows Sapphire laughing as she dances, with her mouth open. The second shows her smiling broadly with her jaw closed. It's quite an odd, unnecessary blunder in a police procedural.
- Quotes
Superintendent Robert Hazard: We didn't solve anything, Phil. We just picked up the pieces.
Featured review
A compelling film.
Two young children find the dead body of a young woman, who is later identified as Sapphire Robbins, a student. Police are quick to chat with Sapphire's boyfriend David Harris, and her brother, Doctor Robbins.
What a great film this is, initially you'll think it's just a straight up whodunnit, and of course it is, the main question is who killed Sapphire, but it's so much more, it really is a look at attitudes towards colour at the time, racial tensions and prejudices.
The most revealing scene I think being where the landlady is opens the door to Doctor Robbins, and seems genuinely horrified to think that she's had a black woman living under her roof, it's almost hard to believe that people had these attitudes, that common indicator of a loud gramophone too, shudders ...
The acting in general was high quality, but the key performance for me was Nigel Patrick, who played Hazard, a character who was perhaps ahead of his time. Earl Cameron was terrific also as Doctor Robbins.
I enjoyed Fenella Fielding's small role at The Lingerie boutique, you can see why she would soon land a role in Carry on Regardless.
This film was ahead of its time, in many ways.
9/10.
What a great film this is, initially you'll think it's just a straight up whodunnit, and of course it is, the main question is who killed Sapphire, but it's so much more, it really is a look at attitudes towards colour at the time, racial tensions and prejudices.
The most revealing scene I think being where the landlady is opens the door to Doctor Robbins, and seems genuinely horrified to think that she's had a black woman living under her roof, it's almost hard to believe that people had these attitudes, that common indicator of a loud gramophone too, shudders ...
The acting in general was high quality, but the key performance for me was Nigel Patrick, who played Hazard, a character who was perhaps ahead of his time. Earl Cameron was terrific also as Doctor Robbins.
I enjoyed Fenella Fielding's small role at The Lingerie boutique, you can see why she would soon land a role in Carry on Regardless.
This film was ahead of its time, in many ways.
9/10.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Apr 27, 2023
- Permalink
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $400,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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