Detektiv Callaghan

Based on the late Pete Cheyney's first Slim Callaghan novel, 'The Urgent Hangman' (1938), which Derrick de Marney had brought to the West End stage in 1952 and promptly co-produced this screen version intended - as the title indicates - to be the first of a series. Sadly this proved not to be and was his final film lead.

Little attempt has been made to open out the proceedings, and nearly all of it takes place indoors. But it's amusing, well-written and well acted enough for this not to matter.