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Product Description
A rare venture into film noir by Hammer films, with Stanley Baker as tough police Inspector Martineau, a man dedicated to cleaning up the mean streets of Manchester. Martineau is put on the spot when an old adversary batters a prison warden to death and escapes. This will mean the death penalty if he's caught, and Martineau is assigned to the case.
Product Description
Detective Inspector Martineau (STANLEY BAKER) is tough, hardworking and one of Manchester's top policemen. So when Martineau hears of a jailbreak involving ruthless criminal and jewel thief Don Sterling (JOHN CRAWFORD), whom he helped to put away, he is convinced Sterling will come back to Manchester for one last heist. But when a simplerobbery turns to murder, Martineau is on the case, obsessed with catching Sterling, his pursuit consumes all parts of his life. But Sterling won't be caught easily, and will go to any lengths not to go back to jail, whatever the price... Filmed on location in Manchester, this crime thriller was nominated for 2 BAFTA awards including best screenplay and most promising newcomer. Directed by the legendary Val Guest (The Quatermass Xperiment), it also features a wealth of British stars including Billie Whitelaw and Donald Pleasence.
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93 of 94 people found the following review helpful
By D. E. Newman
Format:DVD
Set and filmed in 1960 in and around the city of Manchester, this is a great crime thriller from the early years of Hammer Films. It stars the late great Stanley Baker as Inspector Harry Martineau on the trail of vicious hoodlum Don Starling played by John Crawford. Also look out for Donald Pleasance and a young Billie Whitelaw as a husband and wife who act together again after appearing in the previous year's 'Flesh and the Fiends'.
The film contains some superb location scenes of the city as it then was, trying to revitalise after the German bombing campaign and the rationing depravations after the war. Baker is superb in the role of a gritty police inspector chasing a murderous thug across Manchester and the nearby moors, whilst attempting to come to terms with his fraught marriage to his lonely wife played by Maxine Audley.
Keep an eye out for Warren Mitchell of 'Death us do Part' fame as a travelling salesman and a fleeting appearance of Doris Speed (Annie Walker in Granada TVs Coronation Street) as a hospital sister.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
i sometimes forget that "hammer" didn't just produce horror films every year. others genres covered include thriller(like this one), war, comedy, action/adventure etc.
i haven't seen many "hammer" thrillers, but this is a good place to start.
stanley baker scores as an overworked, frustrated, police inspector who is hunting down a sadistic killer who's broken out of jail and looking for stolen money.
there are a few familiar faces in this one; donald pleasence, billie whitelaw, george a. cooper, warren mitchell.
a tough and somewhat daring film, there is more foul language than i thought, a few minor sexual references and quite nasty violence, but a "P.G" rating is suitable.
it's an added bonus that the film wasn't just based in manchester, but actually filmed there as well. that adds realism.
it is a shame to think that by the mid-60s, stanley baker would end up as the forgotten film star; where as the likes of michael caine and sean connery would prosper to superstardom.
one of the better police thrillers i have seen.
i haven't seen many "hammer" thrillers, but this is a good place to start.
stanley baker scores as an overworked, frustrated, police inspector who is hunting down a sadistic killer who's broken out of jail and looking for stolen money.
there are a few familiar faces in this one; donald pleasence, billie whitelaw, george a. cooper, warren mitchell.
a tough and somewhat daring film, there is more foul language than i thought, a few minor sexual references and quite nasty violence, but a "P.G" rating is suitable.
it's an added bonus that the film wasn't just based in manchester, but actually filmed there as well. that adds realism.
it is a shame to think that by the mid-60s, stanley baker would end up as the forgotten film star; where as the likes of michael caine and sean connery would prosper to superstardom.
one of the better police thrillers i have seen.
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By L. Hay
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
My mother used to cringe at black and white films. How she would have reacted nowadays to the appreciative audience of such gems as "Hell Is A City" I shudder to think. Is it not Alex Baldwin who said that all the best films were made in black and white? I completely agree, though there is the odd exception.
Without the benefit of computer graphics and sophisticated special effects, here we have a fast moving police thriller. The wonderful Stanley Baker plays the lead supported by a cast of talented and experienced mega-stars. The film is violent for its time and the music is atmospheric and effective.
If you like these old gritty movies, you will love this one. It ought to be watched by any film buff if nothing more for than to see just how good a film could be made in those days without the frills of modern technology and it is a lesson in good acting. A splendid British attempt at cops and robbers.
I loved the old cars.
VIEW IT!
Without the benefit of computer graphics and sophisticated special effects, here we have a fast moving police thriller. The wonderful Stanley Baker plays the lead supported by a cast of talented and experienced mega-stars. The film is violent for its time and the music is atmospheric and effective.
If you like these old gritty movies, you will love this one. It ought to be watched by any film buff if nothing more for than to see just how good a film could be made in those days without the frills of modern technology and it is a lesson in good acting. A splendid British attempt at cops and robbers.
I loved the old cars.
VIEW IT!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
This film must be one of the first main-feature drama movies set in a Northern town. Although unavoidably dated in parts, it certainly could not be described as 'tame' and is... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Chortonite
5.0 out of 5 stars
I don't play cards. I don't even touch coins.
Out of Hammer Films, Hell is a City is directed by Val Guest, who also adapts the screenplay from Maurice Proctor's novel of the same name. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Spike Owen
4.0 out of 5 stars
And Jigsaw...
Nobody has remarked that this engrossing movie has leapt in price on this reissue...
Meanwhile, there are many eager for the issue on disc of Val Guest's great Jigsaw,... Read more
Meanwhile, there are many eager for the issue on disc of Val Guest's great Jigsaw,... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Christopher Hawtree
5.0 out of 5 stars
Manchester noir
"Hell is a City" is an amazing, chilling noir thriller - essentially a manhunt between a cop and his nemesis in dark, cloudy Manchester. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Autonome
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOT Dixon of Dock Green
For those who remember the earlier days of Police films and TV programmes - this is NOT anything like The Blue Lamp and Dixon Of Dock Green. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2010 by C. E. Detheridge
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hell is a City DVD 1959
Set in Longsight and central Manchester this American style black and white film is the setting for the fictional Moors Murder that is done by the desperate on-the-run criminal... Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2009 by Mrs. P. A. Badger
3.0 out of 5 stars
average
I can't really get very excited about the film. It's an attempt at noir and one of the first outings of the obsessed copper with a difficult private life in the history of British... Read more
Published on 14 May 2009 by TKr
3.0 out of 5 stars
British low budget noir that just misses the mark
Baker, Whitelaw, Pleasance, some big names in a low budget attempt at gritty noir. The grit is supplied by the setting, Manchester, but this itself causes the film its biggest... Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2008 by Lou Knee
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