A nice bit of British film noir for you this week. ‘13 East Street’ made in 1952 tells the story of a police officer who deliberately gets himself imprisoned in order to infiltrate a gang of thieves and robbers operating in London’s East End and the Docks area.
The officer manages to gain the trust of the gang following his supposed breakout from gaol accompanied by another prisoner who is known to the gang that the officer is trying to infiltrate. Not everyone in the gang trusts the new man who’s turned up especially as one of the gang believes he recognises the police officer from years back.
The officer needs to get as much information about the gang before his cover is blown.
This film has a great deal going for it. It’s got lots of scenes of how London looked before the docks closed down and moved down river to Tilbury, plenty for classic car enthusiasts with the various old cars and trucks featured, a femme fatale who becomes involved in the story,fights and a great deal of dramatic tension.
It’s not a full length feature and at only one hour eight minutes long I suspect that this was played in cinemas as a ‘B’ movie as a prelude to the main feature picture. There’s some scenes in this film that reminded me of other later films such as the 1957 movie ‘Town on Trial’ starring John Mills and the original ‘Italian Job’ movie.
I really enjoyed this past paced little thriller and hope that you enjoy it too.