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* [[James Knight (actor)|James Knight]] as Publican
* [[James Knight (actor)|James Knight]] as Publican
* [[Eliot Makeham]] as Theatre Usher
* [[Eliot Makeham]] as Theatre Usher
==Production==
==Original Play==
The film was based on a play by Edward Percy, a conservative MP.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206111173 |title=Playwrights' Pleas for Tax Aid |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=28,442 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=21 June 1946 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref> It ran for three years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18030953 |title=Theatre Slumps In Britain: Plea For Tax Cut |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=34,161 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 June 1947 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
The film was based on a play by Edward Percy, a conservative MP.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206111173 |title=Playwrights' Pleas for Tax Aid |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=28,442 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=21 June 1946 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref> It debuted in London in May 1945. ''Variety'' called it "good theatre".<ref>[https://archive.org/details/variety158-1945-05/page/n61/mode/1up?q=%22shop+at+sly+corner%22 Review of 1945 London play] at ''Variety''</ref>


It ran for over two years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18030953 |title=Theatre Slumps In Britain: Plea For Tax Cut |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=34,161 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 June 1947 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref> The London production only cost $12,000 and made a sizeable profit for its investors.<ref>Robert Reud Plans Production of 'O Coward Heart' and 'Duet for Two Hands'
By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times (1923-Current file); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]28 June 1947: 10.</ref>

The play was produced on Broadway with [[Boris Karloff]] in 1949 but only ran seven performances.<ref>KARLOFF VEHICLE CLOSES SATURDAY: 'Shop at Sly Corner' to End After 7 Performances -- 'Mr. Meadowbrook' to Leave
By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times (20 Jan 1949: 34. </ref>

==BBC TV Version==
The play was adapted for BBC TV in 1946.<ref>AUTHORS COMPLAIN OF "NIGGARDLY" BROADCAST FEES: B.B.C. STATEMENT B.B.C. Says Higher Terms Are to be Offered
Our London Staff. The Manchester Guardian 30 May 1947: 5. </ref>
==Production==
Film rights were bought by British Lion in May 1945.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety158-1945-05/page/n62/mode/1up?q=%22shop+at+sly+corner%22|date=2 May 1945|title=Chatter|page=63}}</ref>
Oscar Homolka was imported from the US to star.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47503182 |title=Hollywood stars form a colony in England |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=14, |issue=15 |location=Australia, Australia |date=21 September 1946 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |page=40 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
Oscar Homolka was imported from the US to star.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47503182 |title=Hollywood stars form a colony in England |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=14, |issue=15 |location=Australia, Australia |date=21 September 1946 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |page=40 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>


It was shot at [[Isleworth Studios]] in September 1946.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248580923 |title=Time slowed its march |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |volume=VII, |issue=46 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=29 September 1946 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |page=29 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref> The film's sets were designed by the [[art director]] [[Bernard Robinson (production designer)|Bernard Robinson]].
George King was to make ''A Lady was to Die'' but delayed that to make this movie. Filming started at 6 August 1946.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety163-1946-07/page/n222/mode/1up?q=%22shop+at+sly+corner%22|date=24 July 1946|title=London|page=63}}</ref> It was shot at [[Isleworth Studios]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248580923 |title=Time slowed its march |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |volume=VII, |issue=46 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=29 September 1946 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |page=29 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref> The film's sets were designed by the [[art director]] [[Bernard Robinson (production designer)|Bernard Robinson]].


Muriel Pavlov and Derek Farr were married shortly after filming.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56415615 |title=Film Stars Married |newspaper=[[Morning Bulletin]] |issue=26,710 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=27 January 1947 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
Muriel Pavlov and Derek Farr, who played lovers in the movie, were married shortly after filming.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56415615 |title=Film Stars Married |newspaper=[[Morning Bulletin]] |issue=26,710 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=27 January 1947 |accessdate=21 July 2020 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
''Variety'' said "Absence of Oscar Homolka from screen for consider-able period makes marquee value problematical. Picture will have to rely mainly on word-of-mouth and a 15-minute cut would speed up story and help considerably. Film gathers pace and is truly cinematic in the second half, but the first part is deadly slow and too explanatory without explaining much. More, too, should have been made of the romanSs between the two young lovers."<ref>[https://archive.org/details/variety165-1947-01/page/n468/mode/1up?q=%22shop+at+sly+corner%22 Review of film] at ''Variety''

*[[Allmovie]] wrote, "Oscar Homolka, a Viennese character actor who worked prolifically on both sides of the Atlantic, is the principal attraction." <ref name="allmovie1"/>
*[[Allmovie]] wrote, "Oscar Homolka, a Viennese character actor who worked prolifically on both sides of the Atlantic, is the principal attraction." <ref name="allmovie1"/>
*[[TV Guide]] called it an " interesting melodrama rich with character, thanks to the excellent performance by Homolka and a uniformly fine British cast." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/code-of-scotland-yard/review/111090 |title=Code Of Scotland Yard Review |publisher=Movies.tvguide.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-22}}</ref>
*[[TV Guide]] called it an " interesting melodrama rich with character, thanks to the excellent performance by Homolka and a uniformly fine British cast." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/code-of-scotland-yard/review/111090 |title=Code Of Scotland Yard Review |publisher=Movies.tvguide.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-22}}</ref>
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*[https://letterboxd.com/film/the-shop-at-sly-corner/ The Shop at Sly Corner] at Letterbox DVD
*[https://letterboxd.com/film/the-shop-at-sly-corner/ The Shop at Sly Corner] at Letterbox DVD
*[https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b5c529d The Shop at Sly Corner] at BFI
*[https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b5c529d The Shop at Sly Corner] at BFI
*[https://archive.org/details/theshopatslycorner Complete film] at Internet Archive
{{George King}}
{{George King}}


Revision as of 12:26, 21 July 2020

Code of Scotland Yard
French poster by Boris Grinsson
Directed byGeorge King
Screenplay byReginald Long
Katherine Strueby
Based onthe play by Edward Percy
Produced byGeorge King
StarringOskar Homolka
Muriel Pavlow
Derek Farr
CinematographyHone Glendinning
Edited byManuel del Campo
Music byGeorge Melachrino
Production
company
Pennant Pictures
Distributed byBritish Lion Films (UK)
Release date
10 March 1947
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office£140,694 (UK)[1]

Code of Scotland Yard is a 1947 British crime film directed by George King and starring Oskar Homolka, Muriel Pavlow and Derek Farr. It was also known as The Shop at Sly Corner, from the popular stage play of that name by Edward Percy.[2][3]

It features the screen debut of Diana Dors.

Synopsis

A French antique dealer (Homolka) lives a comfortable life in London. He cares only for his daughter (Pavlow), who is trying to become a successful concert violinist. When his shop assistant (Griffith) discovers that much of his money comes from fencing stolen goods, he attempts to blackmail the Frenchman.

Cast

Original Play

The film was based on a play by Edward Percy, a conservative MP.[4] It debuted in London in May 1945. Variety called it "good theatre".[5]

It ran for over two years.[6] The London production only cost $12,000 and made a sizeable profit for its investors.[7]

The play was produced on Broadway with Boris Karloff in 1949 but only ran seven performances.[8]

BBC TV Version

The play was adapted for BBC TV in 1946.[9]

Production

Film rights were bought by British Lion in May 1945.[10] Oscar Homolka was imported from the US to star.[11]

George King was to make A Lady was to Die but delayed that to make this movie. Filming started at 6 August 1946.[12] It was shot at Isleworth Studios.[13] The film's sets were designed by the art director Bernard Robinson.

Muriel Pavlov and Derek Farr, who played lovers in the movie, were married shortly after filming.[14]

Critical reception

Variety said "Absence of Oscar Homolka from screen for consider-able period makes marquee value problematical. Picture will have to rely mainly on word-of-mouth and a 15-minute cut would speed up story and help considerably. Film gathers pace and is truly cinematic in the second half, but the first part is deadly slow and too explanatory without explaining much. More, too, should have been made of the romanSs between the two young lovers."Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

References

  1. ^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p483
  2. ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039821/
  3. ^ "Code of Scotland Yard (1947) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Playwrights' Pleas for Tax Aid". The Age. No. 28, 442. Victoria, Australia. 21 June 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 21 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ Review of 1945 London play at Variety
  6. ^ "Theatre Slumps In Britain: Plea For Tax Cut". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 161. New South Wales, Australia. 18 June 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 21 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Robert Reud Plans Production of 'O Coward Heart' and 'Duet for Two Hands' By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times (1923-Current file); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]28 June 1947: 10.
  8. ^ KARLOFF VEHICLE CLOSES SATURDAY: 'Shop at Sly Corner' to End After 7 Performances -- 'Mr. Meadowbrook' to Leave By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times (20 Jan 1949: 34.
  9. ^ AUTHORS COMPLAIN OF "NIGGARDLY" BROADCAST FEES: B.B.C. STATEMENT B.B.C. Says Higher Terms Are to be Offered Our London Staff. The Manchester Guardian 30 May 1947: 5.
  10. ^ "Chatter". Variety. 2 May 1945. p. 63.
  11. ^ "Hollywood stars form a colony in England". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 14, , no. 15. Australia, Australia. 21 September 1946. p. 40. Retrieved 21 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  12. ^ "London". Variety. 24 July 1946. p. 63.
  13. ^ "Time slowed its march". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. VII, , no. 46. New South Wales, Australia. 29 September 1946. p. 29. Retrieved 21 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  14. ^ "Film Stars Married". Morning Bulletin. No. 26, 710. Queensland, Australia. 27 January 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 21 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.

External links


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