The Blue Parrot
1953 British film by John Harlow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Blue Parrot is a low budget 1953 British second feature ('B')[1] crime film directed by John Harlow and starring Dermot Walsh, Jacqueline Hill, Ballard Berkeley, Richard Pearson, and John Le Mesurier.[2] The film was produced by Stanley Haynes for Act Films Ltd.[3] The screenplay was by Alan MacKinnon from a story by British crime reporter Percy Hoskins.
Jacqueline Hill
| The Blue Parrot | |
|---|---|
![](#/media/File:"The_Blue_Parrot"_(1953).jpg) | |
| Directed by | John Harlow |
| Written by | Allan MacKinnon, story by Percy Hoskins |
| Produced by | Stanley Haynes |
| Starring | Dermot Walsh Jacqueline Hill |
| Cinematography | Robert Navarro |
| Edited by | Robert Jordan Hill |
| Music by | Eric Jupp |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Monarch Film Corporation (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 69 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
Small-time crook Rocks Owen receives a mysterious phone call at the Blue Parrot Soho night club and is later found murdered. Bob Herrick, a New York detective in London to learn about Scotland Yard's methods, investigates, and policewoman Maureen Maguire goes undercover at the club posing as a hostess.
Cast
- Dermot Walsh as Bob Herrick
- Jacqueline Hill as Maureen Maguire
- Ballard Berkeley as Supt Chester
- Richard Pearson as Quinney
- June Ashley as Gloria
- Ferdy Mayne as Stevens
- John Le Mesurier as Henry Carson
- Valerie White as Eva West
- Victor Lucas as Rocks Owen
- Edwin Richfield as Taps Campelli
- Diane Watts as Carla
- Arthur Rigby as Charlie
- Thomas Gallagher as commissionaire (uncredited)
- Joe Wadham as PC Jenkins (uncredited)
Critical reception
In a contemporary review Kine Weekly wrote: "Pleasantly intriguing, if modest, whodunnit. It illustrates the big part played by a young American detective in the apprehension of a Soho killer, and ends with a bang. The red herrings are neatly handled by the competent cast. The comedy relief is apt and the dénouement suspenseful. Feminine appeal slight yet piquant."[4]
The Radio Times said: "Dermot Walsh does his best with lacklustre material, and John Le Mesurier turns up in a supporting slot, but there's little else to recommend it."[5]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan wrote: ''Efficient thriller with a bit more sting in the action than usual.''[6]
Chibnall and McFarlane in The British 'B' Film write: "There is little to distinguish this from numerous other urban-set thrillers, but its pacey editing (Robert Hill) and cast of reliable character players carries one over the less probable plot maneuvers."[1]
