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{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Hangman's Wharf
| name = Hangman's Wharf
| image =
| image = Hangman's_Wharf_film_Opening_titles_(1950).png
⚫
| caption = Opening titles
⚫
| caption =
| director = [[Cecil H. Williamson]]
| director = [[Cecil H. Williamson]]
| producer = [[Edwin J. Fancey]]
| producer = [[Edwin J. Fancey]]
| writer = [[John Beldon (writer)|John Beldon]] <br> [[Cecil H. Williamson]]
| writer = [[John Beldon (writer)|John Beldon]] <br> [[Cecil H. Williamson]]
| starring = [[John Witty]]<br>[[Genine Graham]]<br>[[Patience Rentoul]] <br> [[Campbell Singer]]
| starring = [[John Witty]]<br>[[Genine Graham]]<br>[[Patience Rentoul]] <br> [[Campbell Singer]]
| music =
| music =
| cinematography = [[Cecil H. Williamson]]
| cinematography = [[Cecil H. Williamson]]
| editing =
| editing =
| studio = [[E.J. Fancey Productions]]
| studio = [[E.J. Fancey Productions]]
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| gross =
| gross =
}}
}}
'''''Hangman's Wharf''''' is a 1950 British [[crime film]] directed by [[Cecil H. Williamson]] and starring [[John Witty]], [[Genine Graham]] and [[Campbell Singer]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20120708070011/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/227261 BFI.org]</ref> Its plot concerns a doctor working in [[Shadwell]] who is called out for an emergency on a ship docked in the River Thames, where he is framed for murder.
'''''Hangman's Wharf''''' is a 1950 British [[B movie|second feature ('B')]]<ref name="Chibnall">{{Cite book |last=Chibnall |first=Steve |title=''The British 'B' Film'' |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=[[BFI]]/[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=118}}</ref> [[crime film]] directed by [[Cecil H. Williamson]] and starring [[John Witty]], [[Genine Graham]] and [[Campbell Singer]].<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Hangman's Wharf |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150184734 |access-date=11 October 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-08 |title=BFI {{!}} Film & TV Database {{!}} HANGMAN'S WHARF (1950) |url=https://archive.ph/20120708070011/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/227261 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=archive.ph}}</ref> It was written by [[John Beldon (writer)|John Beldon]] and Williamson based on Beldon's 1948 [[BBC]] [[radio serial]] ''Hangman's Wharf'' <ref>{{Cite web |title=Hangman's Wharf |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/15f5769d14bc48b9ba21575a9bd95cb9 |access-date=11 October 2024 |website=BBC Programme Index}}</ref>.


The story concerns a doctor called out for an emergency on a ship docked in the [[River Thames]], where he is framed for murder.
==Main cast==

* [[John Witty]] - Doctor David Galloway
== Plot ==
* [[Genine Graham]] - Alison Maxwell
Doctor David Galloway takes over a practice in [[Shadwell]], and is called to the ship ''Villefranche'', docked at Hangman's Wharf. On his arrival the ship's owner, Sir Brian Roderick, immediately orders him to leave. Galloway is subsequently suspected of the murder of Winston Merrick, but the ''Villefranche'' and Roderick have disappeared, and so has Galloway's alibi. WIth the help of reporter Alison Maxwell, Galloway sets about proving his innocence.
⚫
* [[Patience Rentoul]] - Mrs Williams

⚫
* [[Gerald Nodin]] - Sir Brian Roderick
== Cast ==
⚫
* [[Campbell Singer]] - Inspector Prebble
* [[Max Brimmell]] - Krim
* [[John Witty]] as Doctor David Galloway
* [[Patricia Laffan]] - Rosa Warren
* [[Genine Graham]] as Alison Maxwell
⚫
* [[Patience Rentoul]] as Mrs Williams
⚫
* [[Gerald Nodin]] as Sir Brian Roderick
⚫
* [[Campbell Singer]] as Inspector Prebble
* [[Max Brimmell]] as Krim
* [[Patricia Laffan]] as Rosa Warren


==Production==
==Production==
The film was based on a [[BBC]] [[radio serial]] written by John Beldon. [[Location shooting]] was done along the [[River Thames]] and at [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] and [[St Mawes]].<ref>Chibnall & McFarlane p.118</ref> The railway station at which John Witty - Doctor David Galloway - arrives in Cornwall was St Ives. The branch is still open, and the area still similar today.
Location shooting was done along the River Thames and at [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] and [[St Mawes]].<ref name="Chibnall" /> The railway station at which Galloway as arrives in Cornwall was St Ives.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

==Reception==
''[[Kine Weekly]]'' wrote: "Lively acting takes up verbal slack and enables it to ride on an even keel to an appropriate and exciting climax.&nbsp;... John Witty is inclined to shout and he is not too sure of his accent, but he, nevertheless, contributes a forthright portrayal as Galloway, and Genine Grahame is a likeable Alison. The rest are up to scratch. The cast set about the tongue-in-the-cheek crime play with obvious relish and their hearty teamwork, together with impressive shots of London's famous river, puts quite a kick into its artless blood and thunder."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=22 December 1949 |title=Hangman's Wharf |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2826311676 |journal=[[Kine Weekly]] |volume=394 |issue=2225 |pages=16 |url-access=subscription |via=ProQuest}}</ref>

''[[Picturegoer]]'' wrote: "The cast works well in what is basically complete hokum, but lines and situations do not give the players a chance to shine."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 April 1950 |title=Hangman's Wharf |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1705088565 |journal=[[Picturegoer]] |volume=19 |issue= |pages=17 |url-access=subscription |via=ProQuest}}</ref>

In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' [[David Quinlan (film critic)|David Quinlan]] rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Filmization of a radio serial shows up all its less likely aspects."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Quinlan |first=David |title=British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 |publisher=[[Batsford Books|B.T. Batsford Ltd.]] |year=1984 |isbn=0-7134-1874-5 |location=London |pages=215}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Chibnall, Steve & McFarlane, Brian. ''The British 'B' Film''. Palgrave MacMillan, 2009.


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:1950s British films]]
[[Category:1950s British films]]
[[Category:English-language crime films]]
[[Category:English-language crime films]]


{{1950s-UK-film-stub}}

Revision as of 13:15, 11 October 2024

Hangman's Wharf
Opening titles
Directed byCecil H. Williamson
Written byJohn Beldon
Cecil H. Williamson
Produced byEdwin J. Fancey
StarringJohn Witty
Genine Graham
Patience Rentoul
Campbell Singer
CinematographyCecil H. Williamson
Production
company
Distributed byDUK
Release date
  • January 1950 (1950-01)
Running time
73 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Hangman's Wharf is a 1950 British second feature ('B')[1] crime film directed by Cecil H. Williamson and starring John Witty, Genine Graham and Campbell Singer.[2][3] It was written by John Beldon and Williamson based on Beldon's 1948 BBC radio serial Hangman's Wharf [4].

The story concerns a doctor called out for an emergency on a ship docked in the River Thames, where he is framed for murder.

Plot

Doctor David Galloway takes over a practice in Shadwell, and is called to the ship Villefranche, docked at Hangman's Wharf. On his arrival the ship's owner, Sir Brian Roderick, immediately orders him to leave. Galloway is subsequently suspected of the murder of Winston Merrick, but the Villefranche and Roderick have disappeared, and so has Galloway's alibi. WIth the help of reporter Alison Maxwell, Galloway sets about proving his innocence.

Cast

Production

Location shooting was done along the River Thames and at Falmouth and St Mawes.[1] The railway station at which Galloway as arrives in Cornwall was St Ives.[citation needed]

Reception

Kine Weekly wrote: "Lively acting takes up verbal slack and enables it to ride on an even keel to an appropriate and exciting climax. ... John Witty is inclined to shout and he is not too sure of his accent, but he, nevertheless, contributes a forthright portrayal as Galloway, and Genine Grahame is a likeable Alison. The rest are up to scratch. The cast set about the tongue-in-the-cheek crime play with obvious relish and their hearty teamwork, together with impressive shots of London's famous river, puts quite a kick into its artless blood and thunder."[5]

Picturegoer wrote: "The cast works well in what is basically complete hokum, but lines and situations do not give the players a chance to shine."[6]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Filmization of a radio serial shows up all its less likely aspects."[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ^ "Hangman's Wharf". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  3. ^ "BFI | Film & TV Database | HANGMAN'S WHARF (1950)". archive.ph. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Hangman's Wharf". BBC Programme Index. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Hangman's Wharf". Kine Weekly. 394 (2225): 16. 22 December 1949 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ "Hangman's Wharf". Picturegoer. 19: 17. 1 April 1950 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 215. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
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