The Informers (1963 film)
Encyclopedia
The Informers is a 1963 British crime film
produced and distributed in the UK by The Rank Organisation
and distributed in the USA by Continental Film Distributors. It was directed by Ken Annakin
, produced by William MacQuitty
with the screenplay by Paul Durst and Alun Falconer from the novel "Death of a Snout" by Douglas Warner. It starred Nigel Patrick
, Margaret Whiting, Harry Andrews
, Derren Nesbitt
, Colin Blakely
and Frank Finlay
. Cinematography was by Reginald H. Wyer.
and on location in London
, the story concerns the somewhat uneasy relationship between a Scotland Yard Detective, Johnoe (Nigel Patrick
) and the Squad Chief, Bestwick (Harry Andrews
) over the use of paid informants. Despite orders not to use informants and to adopt more scientific principals of detection, Johnoe continues on until one of his informants is murdered. Immediately he finds himself in a frame for corruption and with few friends left on his own side of the law his only option is to enlist the help of the murdered man's brother (Colin Blakely
).
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
produced and distributed in the UK by The Rank Organisation
Rank Organisation
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities....
and distributed in the USA by Continental Film Distributors. It was directed by Ken Annakin
Ken Annakin
Kenneth Cooper Annakin, OBE was an English film director.- Biography :Annakin grew up in Beverley, Yorkshire where he attended the local school. He began his career in feature films following an early experience making documentaries. His first filmwork was in 1947 with the Rank Organisation...
, produced by William MacQuitty
William MacQuitty
William MacQuitty was a British film producer and also a writer and photographer. He is most noted for his production of the 1958 Rank Organisation / Pinewood Studios film, A Night to Remember, which recreates the story of the sinking of RMS Titanic, based on the book of the same name by Walter...
with the screenplay by Paul Durst and Alun Falconer from the novel "Death of a Snout" by Douglas Warner. It starred Nigel Patrick
Nigel Patrick
Nigel Patrick was an English actor and stage director born into a theatrical family.-Biography:...
, Margaret Whiting, Harry Andrews
Harry Andrews
Harry Fleetwood Andrews, CBE was an English film actor known for his frequent portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Sergeant Major Wilson in The Hill alongside Sean Connery earned Andrews the 1965 National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for the...
, Derren Nesbitt
Derren Nesbitt
Derren Nesbitt is an English actor. Possibly his best known role was as SS Major von Hapen in Where Eagles Dare.In 2008 he was writing a book on "biblical myths and falsehoods".-Acting career:...
, Colin Blakely
Colin Blakely
Colin George Blakely was a Northern Irish character actor. He was considered an actor of great range.-Early life:...
and Frank Finlay
Frank Finlay
Francis Finlay, CBE is an English stage, film and television actor.-Personal life:Finlay was born in Farnworth, Lancashire, the son of Margaret and Josiah Finlay, a butcher. A devout Catholic, he belongs to the British Catholic Stage Guild. He was educated at St...
. Cinematography was by Reginald H. Wyer.
Plot
Filmed at Pinewood StudiosPinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
and on location in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the story concerns the somewhat uneasy relationship between a Scotland Yard Detective, Johnoe (Nigel Patrick
Nigel Patrick
Nigel Patrick was an English actor and stage director born into a theatrical family.-Biography:...
) and the Squad Chief, Bestwick (Harry Andrews
Harry Andrews
Harry Fleetwood Andrews, CBE was an English film actor known for his frequent portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Sergeant Major Wilson in The Hill alongside Sean Connery earned Andrews the 1965 National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for the...
) over the use of paid informants. Despite orders not to use informants and to adopt more scientific principals of detection, Johnoe continues on until one of his informants is murdered. Immediately he finds himself in a frame for corruption and with few friends left on his own side of the law his only option is to enlist the help of the murdered man's brother (Colin Blakely
Colin Blakely
Colin George Blakely was a Northern Irish character actor. He was considered an actor of great range.-Early life:...
).
Cast
- Nigel PatrickNigel PatrickNigel Patrick was an English actor and stage director born into a theatrical family.-Biography:...
as Chief Inspector John Edward Johnnoe - Margaret Whiting as Maisie Barton
- Katherine WoodvilleKatherine Woodville (actress)Katharine Woodville , also known as Catherine Woodville and Kate Woodville, is a British film and television actress. She was known as Catherine Woodville in the UK. She changed her professional name to Kate Woodville on her move to America...
as Mary Johnnoe - Colin BlakelyColin BlakelyColin George Blakely was a Northern Irish character actor. He was considered an actor of great range.-Early life:...
as Charlie Ruskin - Derren NesbittDerren NesbittDerren Nesbitt is an English actor. Possibly his best known role was as SS Major von Hapen in Where Eagles Dare.In 2008 he was writing a book on "biblical myths and falsehoods".-Acting career:...
as Bertie Hoyle - Harry AndrewsHarry AndrewsHarry Fleetwood Andrews, CBE was an English film actor known for his frequent portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Sergeant Major Wilson in The Hill alongside Sean Connery earned Andrews the 1965 National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for the...
as Superintendent Alec Bestwick - Michael Coles as Ben
- John CowleyJohn Cowley (actor)John Cowley was an Irish actor, best known for his role as paterfamilias, Tom Riordan, in the long-running RTÉ Television drama series, The Riordans....
as Jim Ruskin - Allan CuthbertsonAllan CuthbertsonAllan Cuthbertson was a naturalised Anglo-Australian actor.-Early life:Born Allan Darling Cuthbertson in Perth, Western Australia, son of Ernest and Isobel Ferguson Cuthbertson, he performed on stage and radio from an early age.During World War II, he served as a Flight Lieutenant with the RAAF...
as Smythe - Frank FinlayFrank FinlayFrancis Finlay, CBE is an English stage, film and television actor.-Personal life:Finlay was born in Farnworth, Lancashire, the son of Margaret and Josiah Finlay, a butcher. A devout Catholic, he belongs to the British Catholic Stage Guild. He was educated at St...
as Leon Sale - Ronald HinesRonald HinesRonald Hines is a British television actor.He has had a lengthy career, but possibly his best known role was as the husband in three of the four series of Not in Front of the Children...
as Geoff Lewis - Roy KinnearRoy KinnearRoy Mitchell Kinnear was an English character actor. He is best remembered for playing Veruca Salt's father, Mr. Salt, in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.-Early life:...
as Shorty - Peter Prowse as Mick Lonergan
- George SewellGeorge SewellGeorge Sewell was an English actor.-Early life and early career:The son of a Hoxton printer and a florist; Sewell left school at age 14 and worked briefly in the printing trade before switching to building work, specifically the repair of bomb-damaged houses...
as Fred Hill