Don't listen to the negative reviews

Absolutely brilliant

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

For those of us on this side of the pond The Blue Lamp is like the striped pole for barbershops only in the United Kingdom it hangs above the entrance to police stations. The Blue Lamp is a story of a pair of helmeted beat cops working out of Paddington Station in London, one a fairly new recruit, the other an old timer thinking of retirement.The roles are played by Jimmy Hanley and Jack Warner respectively. Hanley was a favored callow juvenile player, doing those roles way past the age he should have is an earnest young officer trying to do his best to make good on the job. Jack Warner who was a music hall performer as well plays the older officer, a kindly veteran who is married to Gladys Henson who both take a parental interest in young Hanley. Their own son had died, most likely in the recent World War. In fact in the shooting on location in London you can see many unpleasant reminders of the war in bombed out buildings, still not repaired or replaced by 1951.While Hanley is being mentored by Warner, there are a couple of punks played by Dirk Bogarde and Patric Doonan who are busy themselves. They're not taken terribly seriously by really professional criminals. As the film is narrated in talking about wannabes like Bogarde and Doonan it reminded of what John Wayne said in The Shootist that the ones you have to watch out for are the hotheaded amateurs. That's these two in a nutshell.The Blue Lamp was Bogarde's breakout role and he's charismatic to the nines. He's every young girl's idea of a bad boy they'd like to have a romp with before settling into respectable married life. Such a girl is Peggy Evans who is fascinated by Bogarde and his disrespect for conventional behavior. Look at the home she comes from and you can see why she wants to escape.The Blue Lamp won the BAFTA award which is the UK equivalent of the Oscar for Best Picture for 1951. It made Dirk Bogarde an enduring star in British cinema and it's a nice tribute to the London Metropolitan Police Force.

The repercussions of a robbery that goes awry after two "adult delinquents", robbing the check out counter of a coliseum, results in the shooting of a London street copper.The film shows the time leading up to the robbery, both the veteran "bobby", PC Dixon(Jack Warner), questioning whether or not to retire after many years of service, and how his new green partner, Andy Mitchell(Jimmy Hanley),(..who rents a room from him)helps in that decision. Meanwhile hoodlums, Tom Riley(Dirk Bogarde)and Spud(Patric Doonan)coerce a young woman, Diana Lewis(Peggy Evans), into helping them concoct a sting operation in order to score some easy loot. When Dixon startles Riley, the result is multiple gun shots to the copper's chest. Fleeing the scene of the crime, we watch as the trio fall apart at the seams while Scotland Yard begin their investigation as Dixon attempts, unsuccessfully, to rebound from his injuries. Mitchell might just get a chance to avenge his partner when a series of circumstances implicate the criminals.Early Ealing Studios picture, directed by Basil Dearden, with an early performance from Dirk Bogarde who's excellent as a cocky, brash heel getting in a lot of hot water as his Tom Riley's jealousy and fear cause a cycle of damaging events leading to a thrilling car and foot chase through London streets, climaxing into a dog-track. We see the investigation and the effects of Dixon's death on the crime-fighters, while Riley and girlfriend Diana's tumultuous relationship tears apart with jealousy towards Spud increasing the ever-growing friction. We see how fate can deal a bad hand as Dixon's contemplating retirement and deciding to remain a cop leads to his doom. And, how Mitchell remains strong with an impressive resolve despite the fact that his partner's murderer remains at large with citizens holding a not-so-fond view(..at times a vocal contempt) of the police. The film does show that the trio of criminals' plan was badly prepared, with them making poor decisions which cost them dearly.The film is a call to arms in which the police must better prepare themselves for the evolving types of criminals which were appearing from the woodwork and that approaching hoodlums should change for safety's sake.

This film is well made and tells the story well. Of course it is dated now but does have a bases of fact especially in police procedure and the fact that there was young men gangsters about because don't forget this was just after the war. All the policeman are like able and as the film goes by you find yourself caring what happens to them. What PC Dixon gets shot it is truly upsetting although most people know that the character when on to be one of the most watched 60's BBC television shows in the form of Dixon of Dock Green. The London shown in the film is a London that I remember lots of war damage and open spaces. I like the old road signs and shop sign which places in its time and space. London just after the war, and was soon to change. Worth a look just for this.

When the Blue Lamp was released i was around 3 years old.I therefore do remember the London that it shows.To me the film is more interesting in what it reveals about the London of 1950 than the actual story.It shows the Metropolitan Music hall in the Edgware Road.It was in the last few years of its life before the A4 cutting a swathe into London meant that it was demolished for "progress".Music Hall by this time was in its last throes and what was left would be rendered extinct by the arrival of ITV.We see the Colloseium in Harlesden.Every High Street had cinemas like this.If you look carefully you will see that they were showing "Granny Get Your Gun" a 1940 "B" feature with May Robson.So it was probably a second run house.There are the bomb sites.I remember that in certain parts of London,particularly the East End there mere were more such sites than actual buildings.The streets do not have a great deal of traffic as there was little traffic at that time.So a film of some sociological interest