The Blue Lamp

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Tomatometer
Not Yet Available

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

71%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 131

The Blue Lamp Photos

View All Photos (2)

Movie Info

The Blue Lamp was an immensely popular British crime film (and the winner of the BFA Award), concentrating on interrelated episodes in the lives of several London policemen. Jack Warner heads the cast as George Dixon, a veteran "bobby" who is murdered by scuzzy small-time criminals Dirk Bogarde and Patrick Doonan. Rookie cop Jimmy Hanley, who'd looked upon Warner as a father figure, is instrumental in bringing the crooks to justice. The semi-documentary style of The Blue Lamp could not help but have been an influence on Jack Webb's Dragnet. Jack Warner proved so popular in the character of George Dixon that he was brought back from the dead to star in the BBC TV series Dixon of Dock Green.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Directed By:

Basil Dearden
Written By:

Alexander Mackendrick, T.E.B. Clarke
In Theaters:

Jun 1, 1950 wide
Runtime:

84 minutes
Studio:

Astor Pictures Corporation

Watch it now

Netflix

Cast

Jack Warner
as P.C. George Dixon

Dirk Bogarde
as Tom Riley

Jimmy Hanley
as PC Andy Mitchell

Patric Doonan
as Spud

Robert Flemyng
as Sgt. Roberts

Bernard Lee
as Inspector Cherry

Clive Morton
as Sgt. Brooks

Peggy Evans
as Diana Lewis

Bruce Seton
as Constable Campbell

Michael Golden
as Mike Randall

Frederick Piper
as Alf Lewis

Gladys Henson
as Mrs. Dixon

Betty Ann Davies
as Mrs. Lewis

Dora Bryan
as Maisie

Meredith Edwards
as P.C. Hughes

Muriel Aked

Glynis Johns

William Mervyn
as Chief Insp. Hammond

Tessie O'Shea
as Herself (singer)

Charles Saynor
as P.C. Tovey

Campbell Singer
as Desk Sergeant

Gwynne Whitby
as Sgt. Grace Millard

View All

Critic Reviews for The Blue Lamp

All Critics (2) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (1)

The latest production from Ealing Studios unavoidably challenges comparison with Hollywood in style and verisimilitude; it must be said that comparison on all major counts is unfavourable.

Jan 24, 2018 | Full Review…

MFB Critics
Monthly Film Bulletin
Solid Brit crime drama.

Apr 11, 2005 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (2)

Audience Reviews for The Blue Lamp

Dec 10, 2012

Police officers pursue a band of thieves who kill one of their own. This film starts about thirty minutes too early; it's over a third of exposition. What is more, there is clear thesis to the film as it basically states in the first minute that it lauds the efforts of British police, and the film doesn't blanch at showing their bravery, resourcefulness, and teamwork. The officers are not flawed characters, nor are they really characters with any dimension. The bad guys are bad, nothing exceptional. And the plot unfolds rather predictably. Overall, I think this film might have been innovative in 1950, paving the way for <i>The French Connection</i> and other crime dramas, but today it doesn't hold as much sway.

Jim H Super Reviewer