''Companions in Crime'' (also known as ''Stryker Strikes Twice'') is a 1954 British

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

John Krish John Jeffrey Krish (4 December 1923 – 7 May 2016) was a British film director and screenwriter. He directed and filmed much archive footage and in particular ''Our School'' in 1962, showing the changing ways of Britain's school and the last ...

and starring Clifford Evans, George Woodbridge and Kenneth Haigh. It was written by Kenneth Hayles, Patricia Lathan and Lester Powell, as a spin-off from the television series '' Stryker of the Yard'', and features two cases originally transmitted as separate episodes: "The Case of the Two Brothers" and "The Case of the Black Falcon".

Plot

Two cases for "Inspector Stryker". In the first case, the detective utilises the aid of young Martha to clear her fiancé, John Kendall, who has been falsely convicted of murder. In the second, Stryker is tipped off that a yachtsman is a jewel smuggler.

Cast

* Clifford Evans as Chief Inspector Robert Stryker * George Woodbridge as Sergeant Hawker * Kenneth Haigh as John Kendall *

Maurice Kaufmann Maurice Harington Kaufmann (29 June 1927 – 21 September 1997) was a British actor of stage, film and television, who specialised in whodunits and horror films, from 1954 to 1981, when he retired. Personal life He was married to Honor Blackm ...

as Arnold Kendall * Christine Silver as Mrs. Kendall *

Eliot Makeham Harold Elliott Makeham (22 December 1882 – 8 February 1956) was an English film and television actor. Career Makeham was born in London, England. Between 1931 and 1956, Makeham appeared, primarily in character roles, in 115 films and in 11 t ...

as Councillor Sandford * Dorothy Alison as Sheila Marsden

Reception

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: "Two slight crime stories add up to an overlong picture which hasn't the material to justify its length. Unambitious direction and indifferent scripts add little to the simple, under-developed themes." ''

Kine Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. Etymology The word Kinematograph was derived from the Greek ' Kinumai ', (to move, to be in motion, to ...

'' wrote: "The picture keeps Stryker, competently portrayed by Clifford Evans, and his stooge, Sam, amusingly drawn by George Woodbridge, out of things during the initial stages, but they, nevertheless, come up fast on the rails and contribute to two exciting finishes. Rest of the players sound, and London and Thames backgrounds first rate. The two halves make a better than average whole." ''

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: "Split-second timing and no frills are the requirements for these package thrillers, designed for American commercial television. The stories here, though modest, are neat and competent."

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0181406 1954 films Films directed by John Krish 1954 crime films British crime films 1950s English-language films British black-and-white films 1950s British films Films scored by Lambert Williamson English-language crime films