Dick Barton at Bay is a 1950 British second feature ('B')[1] spy film directed by Godfrey Grayson and starring Don Stannard.[2] It was written by Ambrose Grayson and was the second of three films that Hammer Film Productions made about the British agent Dick Barton, although it was the last released, following Dick Barton: Special Agent (1948) and Dick Barton Strikes Back (1949).[3]
| Dick Barton at Bay | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Original trade ad in Kinematograph Weekly | |
| Directed by | Godfrey Grayson |
| Written by | Ambrose Grayson |
| Produced by | Henry Halstead |
| Starring | Don Stannard |
| Cinematography | Stanley Clinton |
| Edited by | Max Brenner |
| Music by | Rupert Grayson Frank Spencer |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Exclusive Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 68 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
editCaptain Richard 'Dick' Barton and his wartime college 'Snowey' White, are quickly assigned to recover a kidnapped scientist and de-activate a death ray before national catastrophe triggers World War III with Britain at the heart of Hell.
Cast
edit- Don Stannard as Dick Barton
- Tamara Desni as Anna
- George Ford as Snowey White
- Meinhart Maur as Serge Volkoff
- Joyce Linden as Mary Mitchell
- Percy Walsh as Professor Mitchell
- Campbell Singer as Sir George Cavendish
- John Arnatt as Jackson
- Richard George as Inspector Slade
- Beatrice Kane as Betsy Horrock
- Patrick Macnee as Phillips (Credited as Patrick McNee)
- George Crawford as Boris
- Paddy Ryan as Fingers
- Fred Owens as gangster (credited as Fred Owen)
- Yoshihide Yanai as Chang
- Ted Butterfield as Tommy
- Arthur Howard as extra
- Eliot Makeham as police sergeant
- Jim O'Brady as henchman
- Ross Parker as stall holder
- Ben Williams as Submarine Captain Korczanski
Production
editThe film's title during production was Dick Barton vs the Death Ray. A fourth Barton film was scheduled, Dick Barton in Africa, but Don Stannard was killed in a car crash driving back from the wrap party and Hammer elected not to continue the series.[4]
Critical reception
editSky Cinema wrote: "In their rush to get Barton on to the screen, the makers, despite using the original radio serials as a basis, neglected to give the films the proper budget, resulting in Dick's adventures having an air of tatty, thick-ear melodrama which was never present for the millions of wireless devotees glued to their sets every night at 6.45pm."[5]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Strictly for younger schoolboys."[6]
TV Guide noted "a simple action-adventure film that moves at an entertaining pace."[7] [dead link]
Allmovie called it "a far better thriller than its predecessor".[3]
References
edit- ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "Dick Barton at Bay". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Dick Barton at Bay (1950) - Godfrey Grayson - Review". AllMovie.
- ^ Bruce G. Hallenbeck, British Cult Cinema: Hammer Fantasy and Sci-Fi, Hemlock Books 2011 p46
- ^ "Dick Barton At Bay". Find and Watch.
- ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 302. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
- ^ "Dick Barton At Bay - TV Guide". TVGuide.com.