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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Two sailors, on shore leave, are caught up in a diamond smuggling racket. More complications ensue for black sailor Johnny who finds love and heartache in London docklands. ...Pool of London
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love old British films, especially those that reveal some town or city as it was years before I came onto the scene. Leaving aside the plot lines and characterisations, which are first-rate in themselves, the views of post-war London are priceless. If you've ever seen and enjoyed the footage of Manchester and the like shot by Mitchell & Kenyon in the 1910's, you'll love this. Apart from which, there's this: the word 'Ealing' seems always to be followed by the word 'comedy'; this film shows the extraordinary breadth and depth of the studio's work, and perfectly demonstrates the art of cinema as a story-telling medium. That's the way to do it.
41 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you can't wait until August for this superb Ealing drama (highly rated by Ealing expert Charles Barr in his book on the company) then it is also to be found in the recently released London Collection box set - see my notes in that review for details about this film. It's the only Ealing film on that set but the others also have a great deal of location shooting and include The Yellow Balloon, Sparrows Can't Sing and the Soho-set vehicle for Anthony Newley The Small World of Sammy Lee.
Several of these are long on character and atmosphere but none compares to the verve of Pool of London, directed by Basil Dearden, which skilfully interweaves several plots around the arrival of a merchant ship in London for a few days. I can't understand why this has never been included in the various recent Ealing box sets and I'm glad it's finally getting a DVD release - and that Earl Cameron, one of the two main stars, is still around to enjoy whatever further plaudits may deservedly come his way as the result of this release.
To quote from Charles Barr's summary of the film: "If only one film could be preserved for posterity to illustrate the essence of Ealing ... this would be a good choice, with its clear-cut embodiment of Ealing attitudes to women, violence, social responsibility, and cinematic form. The film grew out of a documentary project and uses London locations extensively; it's one of the last films to feature a London tram-ride."
To which I will only add that those who have seen the film will know that the tram journey in question is not a bit of local colour carelessly chucked in but an integral, and heartbreaking, part of one of the subplots; those who haven't seen it are urged to take this opportunity to see an example of Ealing at its very best.
Several of these are long on character and atmosphere but none compares to the verve of Pool of London, directed by Basil Dearden, which skilfully interweaves several plots around the arrival of a merchant ship in London for a few days. I can't understand why this has never been included in the various recent Ealing box sets and I'm glad it's finally getting a DVD release - and that Earl Cameron, one of the two main stars, is still around to enjoy whatever further plaudits may deservedly come his way as the result of this release.
To quote from Charles Barr's summary of the film: "If only one film could be preserved for posterity to illustrate the essence of Ealing ... this would be a good choice, with its clear-cut embodiment of Ealing attitudes to women, violence, social responsibility, and cinematic form. The film grew out of a documentary project and uses London locations extensively; it's one of the last films to feature a London tram-ride."
To which I will only add that those who have seen the film will know that the tram journey in question is not a bit of local colour carelessly chucked in but an integral, and heartbreaking, part of one of the subplots; those who haven't seen it are urged to take this opportunity to see an example of Ealing at its very best.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Chalk up another masterpiece by Ealing Studios. This film has it all; the fast paced tone as seen in other Ealing masterpieces, a simple story that works. Hitchcockish tension where needed, a wonderful cast with realistic characters played by wonderful actors... 5 Stars; and this is a definite keeper.......
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pool Of London (1950)
I like this film because it is so atmospheric of the post war era. It is also one of the few films or maybe the only one that features the London trams, which was my main reason... Read more
Published 3 months ago by robtram
Time Capsule
`Pool of London' is a heist movie set at the turn of the 1950's. It stars Bonar Colleano as a ship's crew member apt to a little smuggling but who gets in way too deep. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Seatinthestalls
A Great British film!!
I can't be quite as extatic as some of my fellow reviewers, but I can say that this is a grand example of British Cinema at it's (near) best. Read more
Published 9 months ago by A. W. Wilson
Portrait of a city and a time
This is an exceptional film. Its location shooting in and around the port of London in the early fifties has a documentary authenticity. Read more
Published 12 months ago by W. Hamilton
Superb
This is a wonderful film on many levels. Car chases, romance, comedy, racism, crime and more; and all set against the backdrop of early postwar London. Read more
Published 13 months ago by bluesboy
Great British Thriller
Any film starring Bonar Colleano has to be worth watching. There is also an archaeologiocal fascination in just seeing the beautiful down at heel, scruffy London of that period,... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Archie
Finally on DVD
I have been waiting for this film on video or DVD for over 20 years. Give it a go, you won't regret it.
Published 23 months ago by Mr. Robert Cherry
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