The Grand Junction Case

The Scotland Yard series are described as action/thrillers on the banners but this is a misnomer. There is very little action to get thrilled about. The viewer has to imagine what the police and medics are looking at below the body sheets because they are never shown. Supt Duggan (Russell Napier) takes every opportunity to fly around the world to investigate cases so I'm assuming he has an unlimited travel allowance.

Now for the good things. The storylines and adaptations of known facts about real cases are excellent. The mid to late 1950s locations and character behaviour (including non stop smoking) are true to form and the monochrome output creates an atmospheric feel. It is likely that a number of up and coming or hitherto relatively unknown actors had roles in this series and it's good fun trying to spot them. Cockney character actress Rita Webb, Margot Bryant (Minnie Caldwell), Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell being among them. I wonder if that's where those last two first met before moving on to greater things?

Easy viewing.