Reviews
The Cheaters (1960)
The Best Half Hour Crime Show made in the UK
The Danziger Brothers had produced a lot of cheap half hour shows the previous 6 years before they made The Cheaters. In this series they stretched themselves to paying for a known "star" and although the sets were still as creaky, the pace of the shows and the excellent rapport between Ireland and his co-star Robert Ayres, gave the series a glow that was not surpassed by other shows of that period (Unless you include Danger Man as a crime show). However the budgets were perhaps too large for The Danzigers and although they made one more series, perhaps in the face of the growing empire of the Grades, the days of the independent ITV producer were over.
Sadly this show has not been shown on TV for 40 years, except on Channel TV in the 70's, which is a pity as it has been sadly neglected. TV producers ought to bring it back to life instead of repeating ad infinitum all those old movies.
Something in the City (1950)
Richard Hearne's Best Film
A wonderfully simple story of Mr Ningle (Richard Hearne) who lost his job in the City many years ago, but didn't like to tell the wife. So off he goes to Town each day in his pinstripe and bowler, collects his mail and then changes clothes and works as a pavement artist. Unfortunately Bill Shine is sent by Garry Marsh to tail him, as Ningle might not be a suitable father-in-law. When Ningle escapes detection, Shine calls the police. They find Ningle's clothes and assume he's been done in. A suspicious character seen near the scene is of course Ningle himself and the police set out to track Ningle in connection with his own "death"! But it ends with a frantic scooter chase, happily ever after!