Movie review - "Hell is a City" (1960) **1/2

Stanley Baker's glowering intensity which made him so suitable paying villainous roles also meant he could segue into playing intense anti-heroes, which he did roughly from Hell Drivers onwards. This was one of several films he played around the turn of the decade where he played (you guessed it) intense police officers. Here he's a driven copper in Manchester, worrying about a man he put away years ago having escaped and investigating a robbery which resulted in murder - turns out said murder was commitment by the escapee in question.

There are some dreadful "acting" scenes involving Baker and his wife who constantly complains "why are you never home" (she's got a point, if he's not at work he goes to the pub), he won't let get a job, suggests she go have a child if she wants to feel useful, flirts with a barmaid - it's hideous. At the end the barmaid says she wants kids and Baker looks all interested - so does he want to have kids and his wife doesn't, is that it? Columbia requested the wife scenes were cut out for running time and they were right.

The police stuff is much better - it feels authentic, as the best Val Guest films do, and location shooting in and around Manchester helps a lot. The robbery sequence is well done, as is the subsequent murder and escape, and I enjoyed the investigation and interrogation. Aussie viewers will be especially interested by the illegal game of English two-up on the Manchester moors. Check out the finale for the difference between British and Hollywood films - Baker is fighting with the baddie (John Crawford) on the roof top, Crawford is about to fall off, Baker pulls him to safety, Crawford knocks him out then two other cops come in (and not the star) to save the star.

Tough and interesting gritty crime drama - has since been superseded by television but still enjoyable.