Dick Barton: Special Agent (released in the USA as Dick Barton, Detective) is a 1948 British spy film about special agent Dick Barton adapted from the hugely popular radio drama of the same name produced and directed by Raymond Raikes.[1] It was the first of three films that Hammer Film Productions made about the British agent, followed by Dick Barton at Bay and Dick Barton Strikes Back.[2]
| Dick Barton: Special Agent | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Opening title | |
| Directed by | Alfred J. Goulding |
| Written by | Alfred J. Goulding Alan Stranks |
| Based on | the BBC radio serial |
| Produced by | Henry Halstead |
| Starring | Don Stannard George Ford |
| Cinematography | Stanley Clinton |
| Edited by | Eta Simpson |
| Music by | John Bath |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Exclusive Films |
Release date | 10 May 1948 |
Running time | 71 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot edit
Dick Barton (Don Stannard) and his colleagues Snowy and Jock are investigating smuggling when attempts are made on his life. It turns out there is a neo-Nazi plot to contaminate Great Britain's water supply.
Cast edit
- Don Stannard as Dick Barton
- George Ford as Snowey
- Jack Shaw as Jock
- Gillian Maude as Jean
- Beatrice Kane as Mrs Horrock
- Ivor Danvers as Snub
- Geoffrey Wincott as Dr Caspar
- Arthur Bush as Schuler
- Alec Ross as Tony
Release edit
Though critically unpopular, the film's commercial success prompted Hammer to make a number of movies based on radio and/or TV shows. It was released in the USA as Dick Barton, Detective.[3][4]
Critical reception edit
Sky Cinema noted "schoolboy shenanigans from slick Dick and his (badly miscast) aides Jock and Snowy. More laugh-a-minute than thrill-a-minute, this was British 'B'-film making at its grimmest."[5] DVD Talk wrote "the picture has an Ed Wood-like ineptitude",[6] while Allmovie blamed "too much comic relief and terrible pacing".[2]
References edit
- ^ "Dick Barton Special Agent (1948)". BFI. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Don Stannard - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos". AllMovie.
- ^ Pitts, Michael R. (10 March 2019). Famous Movie Detectives III. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810836907 – via Google Books.
- ^ Dick Barton Special Agent Archived 17 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine at Hammerfilms.com
- ^ "Dick Barton - Special Agent". Find and Watch.
- ^ "The Dick Barton Trilogy - Dick Barton, Special Agent / Dick Barton at Bay / Dick Barton Strikes Back (Region 2)". DVD Talk.
External links edit
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