23 Paces to Baker Street (1956)

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Philip MacDonald (novel)
Nigel Balchin (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 July 1956 (West Germany)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Philip Hannon, a blind playwright living in London, overhears part of a conversation , that leads him into a desperate race...

Plot Keywords:

London | Kidnapping | Fiancee | Blind Man | Hearing

Cast

Van Johnson	...	Phillip Hannon
Vera Miles	...	Jean Lennox
Cecil Parker	...	Bob Matthews
Patricia Laffan	...	Miss Alice MacDonald
Maurice Denham	...	Inspector Grovening
Estelle Winwood	...	Barmaid
Liam Redmond	...	Mr. Murch
Isobel Elsom	...	Lady Syrett
Martin Benson	...	Pillings
Natalie Norwick	...	Janet Murch
Terence de Marney	...	Sergeant Luce

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) (Westrex Recording System) | Mono (optical prints)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (cut version) | West Germany:16 (uncut version) | USA:Approved (certificate #17867) | UK:U | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Goofs:

Continuity: When leaving Lady Syrett's the first time, Bob puts Phil's scarf on his shoulders, then the camera angle changes and he puts it on him again.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Nursemaid Who Disappeared (1939)

Nice surprise

I just caught this movie on cable and I was drawn into it. This is a very Hitchockian type of thriller. Blind mystery writer overhears kidnapping plot, but of course no one wants to believe him except his 2 good friends, one who wants to marry him. It had a a few chuckles along with suspense. Particulary when playwriters friend/aid is sent on a epic chase through London following a suspect. Playwriter of course nearly gets himself killed trying to figure out the pending kidnapping himself. A few colorful characters a good mystery plot, a lovelorn but smart girlfriend, a bitter playwriter who no one takes seriously and a very clever twist makes a very good movie. I wish for more nice quiet mysteries like this.