The Anglo-Amalgamated series of British crime dramas and Films Noirs that featured Hollywood actors tended to find good use for them. STREET OF SHADOWS is no exception. Cesar Romero is just fine as Luigi, a pinball (pin-table) club/bar owner in London. His faint Hispanic accent gives him a certain exotic charm and he can take charge of a scene when its required. Along for the ride are Kay Kendall, Victor Maddern and Edward Underdown, all more than capable of fulfilling their character parts. This is a fairly routine movie, but it can keep a viewer guessing and it makes use of some effective visuals. Luigi's club is realistically crowded with drinkers, gamblers and novelty machines, along with the advertised pinball ones. Most effective are several very darkly filmed sequences in which the viewer is challenged to detect what may be going on. For his role as Limpy, Maddern adopts a convincing defect in his walk and his performance is the most affecting in the film. The only problem--a small one--is the harmonica by Tommy Reilly used prominently in the score. It doesn't really jive well with the urban setting. This won't make you forget BRIGHTON ROCK or THE BIG SLEEP; it's just a very decent addition to the British crime movie lineup.
