London was awash immediately after the war with zoot-suited black marketeers, and this gritty little crime thriller directed by John Paddy Carstairs (remembered today for his Norman Wisdom comedies) and slickly shot by Stanley Pavey involves innocent young taxi driver Dickie Attenbrough in one of his first starring roles along with his real-life wife Sheila Sim with a gang of them lead by a slightly younger-than-usual Barry Jones and pre-war leading man Barry K. Barnes.
Worth it for the post-war background. The 50s "New Look" hadn't happened yet and all the girls have big hair and big shoulders - much more flattering than the 50s fashions that made everyone look middle-aged.
Even though Bill Owens was shot in the first reel, he loved his role. It was an interesting part, a sharp young spiv, a real Cagney character he thought and the critics took a lot of notice.
DANCING WITH CRIME is an early potboiler starring Richard Attenborough, playing a young and tiny taxi driver who becomes involved with a criminal gang when his best buddy from his army days is killed. It's a cheap affair, made directly in the post-war effort, that features a couple of lacklustre fight scenes and a mildly engaging plot.
This is a very enjoyable B-film noir which explores some of the darker aspects of life in postwar Britain. John Paddy Carstairs' direction is considerably better when it comes to the character scenes than in the limp and unconvincing fight scenes.
This film sounded interesting from the subject matter, especially the dance-hall setting: and there is some good acting from the 'heavies', Barry K. Barnes as Paul Baker, the suave, good-looking and dangerous master of ceremonies, and Barry Jones as 'Mr Gregory', the mind behind the scenes.
Set at the end of world war two, two demobbed soldiers, Ted Peters (Richard Attenborough) and Dave Robinson (Bill Owen credited as Bill Rowbotham) remain friends and still regularly meet. But, their civilian life has gone in completely separate directions.
Whilst it has to be said that this film uses many situations that even in 1947 were clichés,nevertheless this is a well made and entertaining film.You always know what the characters are up to.
Richard Attenborough is the lead in this excellent UK film.Attenborough plays a cab driver who gets involved in the murder of a friend.
