Stylish but barely mediocre overall

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Stumbled across this little gem of a film on the internet, after seeing it mentioned in an article entitled "The 10 Best British Noir Films You Should Watch" on tasteofcinema.com.I am something of a noir fanatic, and Pool of London holds up with the best of the late, gritty urban films in that "genre," which often forsake the noir femme fatale formula, making males with tragic flaws their own antagonists. This film has all the elements of great drama, and Hitchcock couldn't have done it better. It even features a strikingly beautiful blond, the kind Hitch favored, in Susan Shaw. Va-va-voom!This film transcends most thrillers of the era by making one of the leads a black man, and the ramifications are expertly and sensitively woven into the story, unlike the heavy-handed examples which would follow as the upcoming civil rights era ensued. I was so impressed by the incredible photography in this film that I was compelled to look up the director of photography: Gordon Dines. I must say, John Alton has nothing on Mr. Dines! He is a master of the craft, and makes this film a must-see on that basis alone.This is a well paced, well shot, well acted thriller, and I am glad I finally stumbled across it after all these years. It's so nice to be surprised by the quality of a long lost film, just when you think you've seen all the best. They don't make them like this anymore. Now all you see are cardboard characters, 2-second shots, nauseating hand-held camera takes (even when they aren't warranted ) and CGI explosions....no thanks.Now I need to track down "The Blue Lamp", which was also shot by Gordon Dines.

As a movie in its own right, 'Pool Of London' is no great shakes. It's just a simple tale of botched heist and careless tongues. Curious, coming so soon after the war, when all were reminded that it cost lives.American-looking Bonar Colleano plays the sailor stooge who gets into water too deep to fathom. There are femme-fatale girlfriends not to be trusted too, and soon the cops and villains alike are on his case. There are no clever plot twists and nothing very imaginative in its technical issues of lighting or editing etc. The jewel heist looks like a feeble blueprint for the likes of later 'Topkapi' etc.Where this movie scores highest is in its delightful preservation of a post-war turn-of-the-1950's London and the lives, attitudes and morals manifest by the people of that time. Pre-eminent (I think) is the shock-horror attitude to murder; today it wouldn't raise an eyebrow. The movie is well worth watching for this reason alone. But I don't think the makers ever intended it as a time-capsule, and therefore shouldn't gain extra points for being one.Taken as a straightforward and not particularly imaginative heist movie, this is only just above average.

As a post-war British movie, this has it all in terms of story and setting. The backdrop in the stark, bomb-site ridden City of London, centred round the old docks by Tower Bridge, brings home the reality of everyday privations in a period of austerity before the gradual economic recovery during the 1950s. Good acting across the board from Bonar Colleano to Max Adrian. I liked Colleano in the Way to the Stars and he is just as convincing in this thriller, one of the better examples of the British (Ealing) crime film of the period.I can see why it is sometimes called 'noir' but I think that's more to do with the effective cinematography than the storyline, which is enhanced in interest by including a Jamaican seaman. sympathetically played by Earl Cameron. As another commentator said, it is nice to see that he has consistently acted until today.I appreciated the comments from admirers of this film who were involved in the film-making, and lived in the area where it was filmed. These kind of comments help make IMDb the informative and interesting film site it is; thank you to them.Thoroughly enjoyed this film and recommend it to anyone interested in this crucial period of British film-making.

Like a malevolent gargoyle,third - rate variety artiste Max Adrian casts a basilisk glare over The City's bombsites as he climbs up the broken walls to break into a jeweller's office through the roof,a feat that needs all his acrobatic skills as it involves a prodigious leap from one building to another.Opening the door he admits his cohorts who blow the safe.Unfortunately they disturb the watchman and they murder him before making good their escape,thus making their crime a "Topping Job". Anybody involved in the offence is liable to be hanged,perhaps even fairly innocent Merchant Seaman Bonar Colleano whose readiness to earn a quick couple of quid pushes him into something much deeper when the proverbial "man in a pub" offers him £50 to smuggle a package on board his ship and drop it off in Amsterdam. Normally dealing in packs of cigarettes and Nylon stockings,Colleano is happy to step up into the big boys' world until it all goes wrong..... "Pool of London" brilliantly records the vibrant working - class culture of south east London as it recovers from the depredations of the second world war.The noisy,crowded,smoke - filled pubs,the rumbling trams,the seedy Music halls and all - night dives where punters are fleeced,the coffee stalls and fruit markets,badly - lit alleyways between the tall,dark buildings where only the sound of a tin can kicked by a lonely man spoils the silence. Similar in style to its stablemate "The Blue Lamp",it escapes being a "police procedural" by dint of powerful performances by Mr Colleano and Mr Earl Cameron as his Jamaican shipmate whose friendship is at the core of the movie. Miss Renee Asherson as a clerk at the Shipping Agency and Miss Susan Shaw as the cashier at the Variety Theatre also make a strong impact. Miss Moira Lister is a little de trop as a shrill goodtime girl whose accent swings wildly between Kennington and Kensington. But for me,the performance that characterises "Pool of London" 's case to be considered as one of the finest early post - war British movies is that of Mr Max Adrian as the sinister sunken - eyed broken down Music Hall acrobat who bizarrely performs his act in full evening dress including top hat.His smile as he acknowledges the smattering of applause from the sparse audience is one of desperation indeed.