Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I had avoided this film, mainly because of the male lead. While Bonar Colleano (son of an Australian Circus family) executes his role as an over confident small time American smuggler admirably, I can't help feeling this film needed a star of more international renown. Perhaps Richard Widmark, or Howard Keel (both had made dramas in England) would have given the film a wider appeal. In real life, Colleano eventually married his pretty co star Susan Shaw, who sadly fell to drink following Bonar's tragic death in an auto accident, at only 34. The support cast are all hard workers and ensure you quickly get caught up in the action. Award nominated writers, John Eldridge (who also died young at 42 due to bad health) and Jack Whittingham (A.K.F. The Divided Heart '54, Mandy '52) weave a fast moving story, leading the viewer down an eternally twisting path that's peopled by an interesting assortment of characters. Bermudian born Earl Cameron scores in his first major dramatic part, he's the lonely seaman, tired of bouts of racial abuse, then finally being 'set-up' in a vicious heist. It's a pity that fine character actor Lawrence Naismith (Amazing Mr Blunden) is wasted in a very small role as a bigoted racist. Excellent Director: Basil Deardon (The Blue Lamp '50, Sapphire '59) uses many unique locations (most now gone due to the 'Docklands' re-development) to marvelous advantage. His Director of Photography: Gordon Dines, turns in striking visuals, matching Deardon's flair, with one top sequence following another...through to the exciting finale.John Adison's music score sets off well, with an off beat dramatic style for the Main Title, although this unfortunately gives way to some conventional background scoring. Not quite up to his 1956 'Reach for the Sky', or 61's 'A Taste of Honey'. This film should be far better known ~ any lover of British crime dramas should not be disappointed. Unfortunately, I saw this film on local TV (Gem Australia with their way too BIG, way too bright 'PINK' logo, etc - will they ever wake up?) but, I'm told the recently released DVD quality is good. Any Tram enthusiast wanting to see a round cornered, double decker English Tram, has got to own this title.

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.

I remember some scenes in this film being shot at the end of the street I lived in in East London. As a 12 year old boy I was fascinated by the way they moved the bus stop so Earl Cameron and Susan Shaw could pop into the nearby café for a drink. Other scenes were filmed in the local music hall, the Queens Theatre and in the Rotherhithe Tunnel. Every time I drive through there I remember this movie. And what a great film, the cast, plot, location all perfect. Along with other contributors I also cannot understand why there has been no DVD release. There are far less deserving films which have been released. If the powers that be ever read these comments please consider releasing this on DVD.

Finally this superb post war British thriller has got the DVD release it deserves. It is on the 'London Boxset'which as been released in June by Optimum Releases. Sadly no 'extras' on the box set, but at least it has at long last given a great film the recognition it deserves. It would have been nice if two of the surviving stars Earl Cameron and Leslie Phillips could have been interviewed on their recollections on working with Bonar Coleano, James Robertyson Justice, Renee Asherton and Susan Shaw. The box set includes The Yellow Balloon, The Small World Of Sammy Lee, Sparrows Can't Sing and two shorts in 'Les Bicyclettes De Belsize' and 'The London Nobody Knows.' The box set gets 8 out of 10 from me, but that's mainly down to the 'Pool Of London.'