Saloon Bar (1940)

Name: Saloon Bar
Genre: Thriller
Released: 1940-11-02
Duration: 76 min
Rating: 7
Cast: Gordon Harker, Elizabeth Allan, Mervyn Johns, Joyce Barbour, Anna Konstam

Saloon Bar (1940), directed by Walter Forde, starring Gordon Harker and Elizabeth Allan.

11/02/1940 BR Thriller 1h 16m

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Quiz about this movie

Something more than just a thriller!

Synopsis

A bookmaker with a fancy for detective work attempts to prevent the execution of a potentially innocent man.

Ronald NeameCinematography
Walter FordeDirector
Ray PittEditing
Michael BalconProducer

About the film

Saloon Bar is a 1940 British comedy thriller film directed by Walter Forde and starring Gordon Harker, Elizabeth Allan and Mervyn Johns. It was made by Ealing Studios and its style has led to comparisons with the later Ealing Comedies, unlike other wartime Ealing films which are different in tone. It is based on the 1939 play of the same name by Frank Harvey in which Harker had also starred. An amateur detective tries to clear an innocent man of a crime before the date of his execution.

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Plot

The action takes place in London over one evening in the saloon bar of the Cap & Bells pub, just before Christmas. The regulars discuss the forthcoming execution for robbery and murder of the boyfriend of one of the barmaids. A pound note from the robbery is found in the till. Convinced of the condemned man's innocence, and led by bookie Joe Harris, they trace how the note came to be there and unmask the true killer.

Cast

Production

The film's sets were designed by the art director Wilfred Shingleton.

Critical reception

Kine Weekly said "Gordon Harker is the chief spokesman and has never been in better form; neither has the well-chosen supporting cast. The direction, too, reveals no little resource. What action there is, is not only well timed, but contributes to an exciting climax. As for the "pub" atmosphere, it will warm the heart of every man and, maybe, every woman. In all, a capital and refreshingly English novelty thriller."

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "good", writing: "Verbose but winning mixture of mystery and comedy, with nice pub atmosphere."

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "Gordon Harker was a familiar face in British thrillers during the 1930s, his mournful expression and throaty cockney accent enabled him to play characters on either side of the law. In this engaging Ealing whodunnit, he has a fine old time as a bookie playing detective in his local. Director Walter Forde makes effective use of the claustrophobic set to build tension, and he is well served by an efficient cast of suspects."

Leslie Halliwell said: "Amusing, well-made little suspenser from a West End success."

References

External links

Saloon Bar at IMDb

Saloon Bar at ReelStreets

Text from Saloon Bar on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saloon_Bar

Trivia

It premiered on November 2, 1940, a Saturday.
It runs 1h16 — short for a feature film.
This film's quiz has 12 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.