292:
The police put a ladder to the Wall and Johnny gets young David Caplin to tell them to back off. The priest starts climbing the ladder. Johnny pushes the ladder off the building injuring the priest. In a stand off with the police Johnny shoots one of the young girl students. Cathy is sent in alone to speak to Johnny. She tells Johnny if they do not get the girl to hospital she will die. The children are released leaving just Cathy and Johnny. Johnny is arrested and Cathy feels betrayed as the police had said he would not be. Two final children are not collected: Johnny's young twin siblings. The headmaster takes care of them.
469:, a not too clinical study of adolescent crime and its environment, has many of the ingredients of a very good film. Its story is well-planned, moral and exciting. The dialogue is intelligent, and the filming, against the background of Liverpool's streets, blitz sites, and teeming blocks of municipal flats is lively and imaginative. Much of the acting, too, is unusually impressive. But so much that is good makes one ungratefully greedy for the extra subtleties of characterisation that would have turned this into a first-rate film."
31:
291:
In a final sequence prescient of more recent school shootings, Murphy holds a classroom full of children hostage with a machine-gun, taunting the police on the ground below. A crowd of parents starts to gather as Johnny gets the kids to shout out their names one by one. The priest confronts Johnny.
418:
It played throughout Europe on its initial release, but failed to break into the US market, where a glut of similar films was being produced. The film began airing on local US television stations in mid-1960, and the film aired sporadically throughout the decade. It was, however, given additional
283:
Sergeant Truman visits the Murphy household he becomes romantically involved with Johnny's sister. He also finds considerable points of similarity between his previous investigations into the activities of an arsonist known as the "Firefly" and his investigation of Johnny Murphy. Cushing plays a
446:
wrote: "The screenplay is stiff and lifeless, relying on false banter and stagy recrimination scenes," with the reviewer concluding that, "It is very sad that such a wonderful opportunity to make a true to life film on such an important theme has been allowed, once again, to slip away".
287:
The
Chinese boy Alexander is knocked down and accidentally run over by Johnny stealing and driving Alexander's and his sister Primrose's laundry van at high speed trying to get away from the police, after being caught trying to set fire to a local hotel. Alexander is pronounced dead.
455:
said that the film "seems a sadly wasted opportunity: a highly experienced director and a young writer, approaching a topical subject of real potentialities, have found in it mainly the familiar material for melodrama."
248:
is presented as a negative influence. In a memorable scene, music appears to put the youths into a trance-like state, culminating in McCallum leading a menacing advance on Baker's character.
251:
Many of the poor working-class subjects of the film are from
Liverpool's sizeable Irish-descended community. Notably, two important characters are Chinese.
629:
419:
theatrical showings in
England in 1964–65 to cash in on both its Liverpool background, after the city became famous for being the home of
483:
noted, "A tautly scripted effort is given a realistic bent through the atmospheric photography and the subtle handling of the children."
1312:
509:
said: "'Realistic' melodrama satotaged by an entirely schematic and predicatable plot; enervatingly dull until the siege climax."
1322:
953:
544:
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The initial scenes introduce the various miscreant young children who are to appear in the final classroom siege.
1317:
1175:
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A series of arson attacks are taking place across the city, with metal laundry tags being found at each scene.
612:
562:
1342:
1327:
1223:
975:
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1103:
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500:
359:
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gave the film 2/5 stars, calling film: "a drearily predictable but well-handled slice of dour realism."
258:
accent in this film. The tough inner-city estates are represented as a breeding ground for youth crime.
1207:
1151:
580:
415:, and the school scenes were shot at St Mary and St Michael School, Sutton Street, Stepney, London E1.
295:
The sergeant drives Cathy home and asks her out but she declines. She kisses his hand with gratitude.
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633:
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The film was shot on location in Gerard
Gardens in Liverpool. Some interior scenes were shot at
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698:
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rated the film as "average", writing: "Social conscience thriller doesn't bite deep enough."
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The success rate of
Liverpool's juvenile liaison officers is lauded in the prologue.
240:
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wrote, "It's hard to deny its rousing effectiveness as a high-powered melodrama".
30:
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223:, has an explicit social agenda. It owes much to U.S. films of a similar genre.
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563:"British 60s cinema - The 'Social problem' films of Dearden & Relph"
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284:
local priest attempting to heal the social problems of the locality.
276:
904:
479:
226:
McCallum's character, in particular, references roles played by
926:
254:
Despite its
Liverpool setting no major character speaks with a
613:"Liverpool at the Movies #2: Violent Playground - Getintothis"
630:"Showtimes, reviews, trailers, news and more - MSN Movies"
527:"Violent Playground Poster, UK Quad, 1958, Cliff Hirstle"
961:
203:is a black and white 1958 British film directed by
716:Hill, Derek (Spring 1958). "Violent Playground".
1294:
624:
622:
599:randomramblingsthoughtsandfiction.blogspot.co.uk
852:(7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 1082.
821:British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959
498:British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959
947:
756:"BFI Screenonline: Violent Playground (1958)"
619:
279:street gang led by Johnny Murphy. When local
954:
940:
219:. The film, which deals with the genre of
29:
847:
374:Bernice Swanson – Meg (as Benice Swanson)
356:Fergal Boland – Patrick Montgomery Murphy
35:Original UK quad poster by Cliff Hirstle
818:
1295:
423:, and McCallum's global popularity as
935:
435:
715:
401:– kid in Johnnie's gang (uncredited)
13:
332:– Detective Sergeant Willie Walker
14:
1359:
870:
389:Christopher Cooke – David Catlin
308:– Detective Sergeant Jack Truman
1313:Films directed by Basil Dearden
841:
812:
784:
766:
748:
730:
709:
691:
545:"The Violent Playground (1958)"
1323:Films shot at Pinewood Studios
699:"Monthly Film Bulletin review"
666:
648:
605:
587:
573:
555:
537:
519:
1:
512:
406:
1348:Films scored by Philip Green
1338:1950s English-language films
976:The Black Sheep of Whitehall
7:
1280:The Man Who Haunted Himself
1128:The Ship That Died of Shame
737:"Nearly a very good film".
595:"Violent Playground (1958)"
581:"Violent Playground (1958)"
314:– Catherine 'Cathie' Murphy
10:
1364:
1152:The Smallest Show on Earth
848:Halliwell, Leslie (1989).
792:Radio Times Guide to Films
440:In a contemporary review,
395:Oonagh Quinn – Jilly Baker
353:Brona Boland – Mary Murphy
16:1958 film by Basil Dearden
970:
794:(18th ed.). London:
443:The Monthly Film Bulletin
392:Irene Arnold – Mrs. Baker
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60:
50:
40:
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23:
1272:The Assassination Bureau
1048:Saraband for Dead Lovers
567:www.british60scinema.net
380:– Tommy (as Fred Fowell)
281:Juvenile Liaison Officer
1333:Films shot in Liverpool
1176:The League of Gentlemen
819:Quinlan, David (1984).
796:Immediate Media Company
760:www.screenonline.org.uk
703:www.screenonline.org.uk
430:The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
298:
264:
109:Reg Johnson (exteriors)
1318:Films set in Liverpool
850:Halliwell's Film Guide
531:www.moviepostermem.com
275:The film focuses on a
798:. 2017. p. 992.
141:The Rank Organisation
774:"Violent Playground"
465:'s reviewer wrote: "
71:(executive producer)
1343:1950s British films
1328:British drama films
1016:They Came to a City
984:The Goose Steps Out
741:Manchester Guardian
660:www.reelstreets.com
462:Manchester Guardian
221:juvenile delinquent
1192:The Secret Partner
1160:Violent Playground
1112:The Rainbow Jacket
962:Films directed by
922:Violent Playground
911:Violent Playground
900:Violent Playground
894:TCM Movie Database
889:Violent Playground
878:Violent Playground
825:B.T. Batsford Ltd.
744:: 5. 1 April 1958.
467:Violent Playground
436:Critical reception
371:Sean Lynch – Slick
200:Violent Playground
24:Violent Playground
1290:
1289:
1120:Out of the Clouds
1096:The Gentle Gunman
1032:The Captive Heart
1008:The Halfway House
1000:My Learned Friend
992:The Bells Go Down
350:– Chief Inspector
241:Blackboard Jungle
234:, and especially
196:
195:
1355:
1308:1958 drama films
1264:Only When I Larf
1224:The Mind Benders
1088:I Believe in You
956:
949:
942:
933:
932:
916:BFI Screenonline
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632:. Archived from
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584:
577:
571:
570:
559:
553:
552:
551:on 20 June 2017.
547:. Archived from
541:
535:
534:
523:
507:Leslie Halliwell
473:BFI Screenonline
413:Pinewood Studios
348:George A. Cooper
344:– Superintendent
342:Moultrie Kelsall
320:– Johnnie Murphy
163:
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106:Reginald H. Wyer
33:
21:
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1104:The Square Ring
1056:Train of Events
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719:Sight and Sound
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636:on 4 April 2012
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583:. 29 July 2017.
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452:Sight and Sound
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871:External links
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674:"Reel Streets"
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656:"Reel Streets"
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615:. 1 July 2016.
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517:
516:
514:
511:
491:Guide to Films
437:
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425:Illya Kuryakin
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217:David McCallum
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102:Cinematography
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90:David McCallum
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55:James Kennaway
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1232:A Place to Go
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1216:Life for Ruth
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1064:The Blue Lamp
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1024:Dead of Night
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834:0-7134-1874-5
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386:– Mrs. Catlin
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246:Rock 'n' Roll
243:
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232:Marlon Brando
229:
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213:Peter Cushing
210:
209:Stanley Baker
207:and starring
206:
205:Basil Dearden
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80:Stanley Baker
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69:Earl St. John
66:
65:Michael Relph
63:
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45:Basil Dearden
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1136:Who Done It?
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1072:Cage of Gold
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681:. Retrieved
677:
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638:. Retrieved
634:the original
607:
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549:the original
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399:Melvyn Hayes
360:Michael Chow
312:Anne Heywood
294:
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239:
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199:
198:
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172:Running time
149:Release date
126:Philip Green
85:Anne Heywood
18:
927:ReelStreets
778:TVGuide.com
678:Reelstreets
489:Radio Times
421:The Beatles
362:– Alexander
330:John Slater
61:Produced by
41:Directed by
1303:1958 films
1297:Categories
1248:Masquerade
859:0586088946
823:. London:
513:References
407:Production
368:– Primrose
256:Merseyside
236:Vic Morrow
228:James Dean
133:Production
51:Written by
726:(4): 203.
683:31 August
366:Tsai Chin
277:Liverpool
114:Edited by
1256:Khartoum
1168:Sapphire
905:AllMovie
480:TV Guide
338:– Heaven
326:– priest
189:Language
176:108 min.
122:Music by
76:Starring
892:at the
192:English
181:Country
158: (
135:company
1283:(1970)
1275:(1969)
1267:(1968)
1259:(1966)
1251:(1965)
1243:(1964)
1235:(1963)
1227:(1963)
1219:(1962)
1211:(1962)
1203:(1961)
1200:Victim
1195:(1961)
1187:(1960)
1179:(1960)
1171:(1959)
1163:(1958)
1155:(1957)
1147:(1956)
1139:(1956)
1131:(1955)
1123:(1955)
1115:(1954)
1107:(1953)
1099:(1952)
1091:(1952)
1083:(1951)
1075:(1950)
1067:(1950)
1059:(1949)
1051:(1948)
1043:(1947)
1040:Frieda
1035:(1946)
1027:(1945)
1019:(1944)
1011:(1944)
1003:(1943)
995:(1943)
987:(1942)
979:(1942)
856:
831:
802:
215:, and
640:9 May
883:IMDb
854:ISBN
829:ISBN
800:ISBN
739:The
685:2018
642:2009
487:The
459:The
299:Cast
265:Plot
160:1958
156:1958
925:at
914:at
903:at
881:at
496:In
427:in
238:in
1299::
776:.
758:.
724:27
722:.
701:.
676:.
658:.
621:^
597:.
565:.
529:.
244:.
230:,
211:,
955:e
948:t
941:v
862:.
837:.
808:.
780:.
762:.
705:.
687:.
662:.
644:.
601:.
569:.
533:.
162:)
97:,
92:,
87:,
82:,
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