Gideon of Scotland Yard (1958)

Gideon of Scotland Yard (1958), directed by John Ford.

Aka Gideon's Day.

I don't know the story of how Ford came to direct this British police film. Unusually it is in a contemporary urban setting, as is his The Last Hurrah (1958) made the same year.

Jack Hawkins is very natural as the harried police detective and family man. His day includes police corruption and murder, managing his informants, payroll robbery, dashing to court to testify, an escaped mental patient and more murder, being held at gunpoint, and finally being called out again to handle rich kids playing at being robbers -- with still more murder.

It is often lighter than it sounds; the Inspector has ready -- if bitter -- wit. The police station resembles one of Ford's cavalry forts, with the canny and stalwart sergeant and earnest young officers who irritate their elders.

Anna Massey's first film credit at age 19.

Available on Blu-ray, an unencrypted Sony BD-R. No subtitles but I found a track online.