''Dangerous Assignment'' (also known as ''London Assignment'') is a 1950 British second feature ('B')

crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

directed by Ben R. Hart and starring

Lionel Murton William Lionel Murton (2 June 1915 – 26 September 2006) was an English character actor. Born in Wandsworth, London, he was resident at Little Orchard, Weston Road, Upton Grey, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, before his death at age 91. He was ...

, Pamela Deeming and Ivan Craig. It was written by Chris Messina and produced by Miriam Crowdy for Touchstone Films.

Synopsis

American crime reporter Joe Wilson visits London in pursuit of "human interest" crime stories. When investigating a stolen car racket, he gets beaten up by a gang, and connected with several murders. Together with his girlfriend Laura he seeks out the whereabouts of a missing car dealer.

Cast

as Joe Wilson * Pamela Deeming as Laura * Ivan Craig as Frank Mayer *

MacDonald Parke MacDonald Parke (1891–1960) was a Canadian film and television actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medi ...

as B.G. Bradley * Edward Evans as detective * Michael Hogarth as policeman * Bill Hodge as the stooge

Production

The film was made with backing from the newly-formed distributor Apex Films.

Reception

While it was criticised for its weak story, it received praise as a "commendable effort" which had achieved a certain amount of realism. ''

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "Poor, carelessly constructed thriller." ''

Picturegoer ''Picturegoer'' was a fan magazine published in the United Kingdom between 1911 and 23 April 1960. Background The magazine was started in 1911 under the name ''The Pictures'' and in 1914 it merged with ''Picturegoer''. Following the merge it was ...

'' wrote: "A rarity – a British crime second feature that holds one's interest. Barring a shaky start, it is gripping throughout. ... The picture will be found particularly interesting by Londoners as, for economy, much of it was filmed outdoors. Many scenes were shot around Fleet Street. A word about the stars: Lionel Murton does well as the journalist, but I found Pamela Deeming, as the girl detailed by his London office to look after the journalist, somewhat 'wooden' at times. This picture is the first of a series of crime stories Target Films hopes to present from European capitals, with Murton as the roving reporter." In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Rough and ready thick-ear, indifferently added."

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0176640 1950 films British crime films 1950 crime films Films shot in England Films set in England British black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films English-language crime films