Lively, entertaining reviews of, and essays on, old and newer films and everything relating to them, written by professional author William Schoell.

Thursday, August 6, 2020

23 PACES TO BAKER STREET

Van Johnson as the disheartened playwright
23 PACES TO BAKER STREET (1956). Director: Henry Hathaway.

Phillip Hannon (Van Johnson) is a playwright who has temporarily relocated to London where the British production of his latest show is a hit. Phillip lost his eyesight in an unspecified accident a few years before and remains bitter and unsatisfied with life. His former fiancee, Jean (Vera Miles of Tarzan's Hidden Jungle), comes to see him -- it was not her idea to end the engagement -- but he still seems determined to keep distance between them. He has a likable butler named Bob (Cecil Parker of The Ladykillers) who looks after him. One evening Phillip overhears a conversation between two people -- a man named Evans and a woman named Murch who wears a distinctive perfume -- and realizes there is a strong possibility she is being forced into some kind of criminal mischief. With the help of Jean and Bob, Phillip goes about trying to find this Miss Murch so he can help her and prevent the possible child kidnapping or other skulduggery that might take place. But while he's looking for Murch, Evans is looking for him ...

Johnson with Vera Miles
23 Paces to Baker Street comes off like a combination of Rear Window and The Man Who Knew Too Much, although it lacks the Master's touch, Henry Hathaway not being in the same league as Hitchcock. In spite of that, 23 Paces is a memorable suspense-thriller, with a nifty scene when Phillip is caught on a crumbling roof in a diabolical trap, and an exciting climax when he squares off with the mastermind in his apartment. The performances can not be faulted: Johnson is square-on in his portrayal of the disheartened and embittered blind man who finally allows love in the door, Vera Miles is warm and sympathetic as the woman who adores him, Parker makes a likable helpmate, and Estelle Winwood is winning as a barkeep who also tries to help Phillip in his quest. There are also notable turns from Patricia Laffan as a nurse and Martin Benson [The Cosmic Monsters] as a man who runs an agency for same, among others.

Cinematography by Milton R.. Krasner
The movie greatly benefits from an evocative score by Leigh Harline and impressive CinemaScope photography by Milton R. Krasner; his sweeping shots of London are especially beautiful.  This was hardly the first depiction of a bitter blind man, nor is Phillip the first blind "detective." Edward Arnold played a blind private eye (much more accepting of his impairment) in two films. Years later James Franciscus starred as a blind insurance investigator on the TV series Longstreet, which lasted one season. An Italian giallo film named The Crimes of the Black Cat has a lot of plot similarities to 23 Paces, also featuring a blind man who overhears a plot in a bar, a rooftop trap, and the like. 23 Paces is far superior to Wait Until Dark, which had a blind heroine in a tough spot at the climax.

Verdict: Highly watchable suspense film with some excellent performances. ***. 

4 comments:

angelman66 said...

Hm, interesting and what a cast. Love all those great character actors like Estelle Winwood! Wish I loved Van a little more, but he is not a deal breaker! Have never seen Vera Miles in any film (that I can remember) except Psycho...This does look Hitchcockian!
- C

William said...

The plot is like Hitchcock, but the direction is not, but it's still a good movie. I know that Van Johnson is not one of your favorites, LOL! I've always liked ol' freckle face but he's not everyone's cup of java, ha!

angelman66 said...

I do like Hathaway, he is underrated—Niagara is great, for example!

William said...

Yes, that was a good movie.