Something in the City

This forgotten production was shown yesterday on British satellite TV channel Film24 who regularly air well-restored forgotten British films of the era.

Mr Pastry (as star Richard Hearne was better known) was primarily a children's entertainer but this film was made to appeal to all ages. His biggest rival for madcap frantic comedy of that era was Norman Wisdom who was a more versatile and talented performer but who inclined towards pathos and sentimentality. Mr Pastry was more Chaplinesque - a plucky little chap, deflater of the rich and pompous, quick thinking and quick on his feet. The story here is rather close to the Sherlock Holmes "Man with the Twisted Lip" but given a modern treatment. Like the Norman Wisdom vehicles, the popularity of the star allowed budgets for a good cast, reasonable script and good production values. In fact the biggest name in the film is uncredited, playing police constable was a young Stanley Baker.