The Blue Lamp: How Does This British Police Drama Hold Up?

Jimmy Hanley, Dirk Bogarde & Peggy Evans in The Blue Lamp

The Blue Lamp, a 1949 Ealing Studios production, presents a snapshot of post-war London and its police force, and it’s interesting to see how a film so specifically tied to its time can still engage today. The story centers on PC George Dixon, played with quiet authority by Jack Warner, a seasoned and respected officer on the beat. He’s a familiar face in his community, representing an older style of policing based on trust and personal interaction.

The movie contrasts Dixon with a younger, more reckless generation, embodied by Tom Riley, portrayed by Dirk Bogarde. Tom is a small-time crook, who, along with his partner, Spud, played by Patric Doonan, gets involved in increasingly serious crimes. He embodies a world of quick cash and violence which is very different from the traditional world of law and order that Dixon represents. As the story progresses, we see the tension between these two worlds escalate, culminating in a tense and tragic climax. Peggy Evans plays Diana Lewis, the young woman caught between the two worlds, with some great dramatic scenes. Robert Flemyng is also excellent as Inspector Cherry, who, as the lead investigating officer, represents the more formal side of the police.

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Another example of the classic Ealing Studios style poster.
Another example of the classic Ealing Studios style poster.

Director Basil Dearden does a great job of using the London locations to their full advantage. The streets, buildings, and neighborhoods of the city are as important to the feel of the film as the main characters, adding a sense of realism. The film doesn’t shy away from the dark side of London either; it portrays the seedy underbelly of crime, contrasting sharply with the sense of community in some of the other scenes. The movie serves as a record of a specific moment in British history and its approach to policing; it looks back at an idea of policing that was rooted in the community and questions whether that approach could have any success in the rapidly changing post-war world. The film is surprisingly effective.

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An interesting thing about The Blue Lamp is that, even though PC George Dixon dies, it led to the long-running television series Dixon of Dock Green. The character, due to his huge popularity, was resurrected for the TV screen, and he continued to uphold the values of his old fashioned style of policing for another twenty one years.

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The Blue Lamp is an Ealing Studios production.
Release Date: 1949
Director: Basil Dearden
Cast: Jack Warner, Dirk Bogarde, Patric Doonan, Peggy Evans, Robert Flemyng 

Head of film reviews at The Viewers Guide with an erudite, insightful, slightly sardonic, deep appreciation for classic cinema. Has a habit of quoting obscure lines from old films in everyday conversation. He keeps a meticulously organized film logbook. He's a bit of a tea snob.