Violent Playground
Encyclopedia
Violent Playground is a 1958
British film directed by Basil Dearden
starring Stanley Baker
, Peter Cushing
and David McCallum
.
street gang led by Johnny Murphy (McCallum). When local Juvenile Liaison Officer
Sergeant Truman (Baker) visits the Murphy household he becomes romantically involved with Johnny's sister (Anne Heywood
). He also finds considerable points of similarity between his previous investigations into the activities of an arsonist known as the 'Firefly' and his investigation of Johnny Murphy. Cushing plays a local priest attempting to heal the social problems of the locality. In the final sequence, Murphy holds a classroom full of children hostage at gunpoint.
, Marlon Brando
, and especially Vic Morrow
in Blackboard Jungle
. Rock 'n' Roll is presented as a negative influence. In a memorable scene, music appears to put the youths into a trance-like state culminating in McCallum leading a menacing advance on Baker's character. British audiences watching this film would certainly have noted that the poor working class subjects of the film were almost entirely made up of Liverpool's sizable Irish minority.
. It played throughout Europe on its initial release, but failed to break into the U.S. market where a glut of similar films were being produced. It was, however, given a U.S. release in the 1960s to cash in on McCallum's global popularity in his role as Illya Kuryakin
in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
. Following the Dunblane Massacre
of 1996 the film has been largely absent from television schedules in the United Kingdom
, possibly because of scenes featuring school children being held hostage at gunpoint.
1958 in film
The year 1958 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 16- "In the Money" by William Beaudine is released on this date. It would be the last installment of The Bowery Boys series which began back in 1946....
British film directed by Basil Dearden
Basil Dearden
Basil Dearden was an English film director.-Life and career:Dearden was born at Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. He graduated from theatre direction to film, working as an assistant to Basil Dean...
starring Stanley Baker
Stanley Baker
Sir Stanley Baker was a Welsh actor and film producer.-Early career:William Stanley Baker was born in Ferndale, Rhondda Valley, Wales. In the mid-1930s his parents moved to London, where Baker spent most of his formative years...
, Peter Cushing
Peter Cushing
Peter Wilton Cushing, OBE was an English actor, known for his many appearances in Hammer Films, in which he played the handsome but sinister scientist Baron Frankenstein and the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, amongst many other roles, often appearing opposite Christopher Lee, and occasionally...
and David McCallum
David McCallum
David Keith McCallum, Jr. is a Scottish actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as interdimensional operative Steel in Sapphire & Steel, and Dr...
.
Plot
A British take on the popular genre of J.D. films, Violent Playground centres on a LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
street gang led by Johnny Murphy (McCallum). When local Juvenile Liaison Officer
Juvenile Liaison Officer
The theory of a Juvenile Liaison Officer scheme in the Republic of Ireland was put forward to the Minister for Justice Gerry Collins in 1985 . It has since been passed and is similar to the ASBO scheme in the UK...
Sergeant Truman (Baker) visits the Murphy household he becomes romantically involved with Johnny's sister (Anne Heywood
Anne Heywood
Anne Heywood is a British film actress. Born as Violet Pretty in Handsworth, Birmingham, England, she won the Miss Great Britain title under her real name in 1950,...
). He also finds considerable points of similarity between his previous investigations into the activities of an arsonist known as the 'Firefly' and his investigation of Johnny Murphy. Cushing plays a local priest attempting to heal the social problems of the locality. In the final sequence, Murphy holds a classroom full of children hostage at gunpoint.
Themes
The film has an explicit social agenda. Inner-city estates are represented as a breeding ground for youth crime, the success rate of Liverpool's juvenile liaison officers is lauded in the prologue. The film owes much to U.S. films in a similar genre. McCallum's character, in particular, references roles played by James DeanJames Dean
James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...
, Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
, and especially Vic Morrow
Vic Morrow
Victor "Vic" Morrow was an American actor whose credits include a starring role in the 1960s TV series Combat!, prominent roles in a handful of other television and cinema dramas, and numerous guest roles on television...
in Blackboard Jungle
Blackboard Jungle
Blackboard Jungle is a 1955 social commentary film about teachers in an inner-city school. It is based on the novel of the same name by Evan Hunter.-Plot:...
. Rock 'n' Roll is presented as a negative influence. In a memorable scene, music appears to put the youths into a trance-like state culminating in McCallum leading a menacing advance on Baker's character. British audiences watching this film would certainly have noted that the poor working class subjects of the film were almost entirely made up of Liverpool's sizable Irish minority.
Production and release
The film was shot on location in Gerard Gardens in Liverpool. Interior scenes were shot in 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...
. It played throughout Europe on its initial release, but failed to break into the U.S. market where a glut of similar films were being produced. It was, however, given a U.S. release in the 1960s to cash in on McCallum's global popularity in his role as Illya Kuryakin
Illya Kuryakin
Illya Nickovetch Kuryakin is a fictional character from the 1960s TV spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E..The series was remarkable for pairing an American Napoleon Solo and the Russian Kuryakin as two spies who work together for an international espionage organisation at the height of the Cold War...
in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American television series that was broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1964, to January 15, 1968. It follows the exploits of two secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a fictitious secret international espionage and law-enforcement...
. Following the Dunblane Massacre
Dunblane massacre
The Dunblane massacre was a multiple murder-suicide which occurred at Dunblane Primary School in the Scottish town of Dunblane on 13 March 1996. Sixteen children and one adult were killed by Thomas Hamilton before he committed suicide.-Timeline of events:...
of 1996 the film has been largely absent from television schedules in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, possibly because of scenes featuring school children being held hostage at gunpoint.
Cast
- Stanley BakerStanley BakerSir Stanley Baker was a Welsh actor and film producer.-Early career:William Stanley Baker was born in Ferndale, Rhondda Valley, Wales. In the mid-1930s his parents moved to London, where Baker spent most of his formative years...
- Detective Sergeant Jack Truman - Anne HeywoodAnne HeywoodAnne Heywood is a British film actress. Born as Violet Pretty in Handsworth, Birmingham, England, she won the Miss Great Britain title under her real name in 1950,...
- Catherine 'Cathie' Murphy - David McCallumDavid McCallumDavid Keith McCallum, Jr. is a Scottish actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as interdimensional operative Steel in Sapphire & Steel, and Dr...
- Johnnie Murphy - Peter CushingPeter CushingPeter Wilton Cushing, OBE was an English actor, known for his many appearances in Hammer Films, in which he played the handsome but sinister scientist Baron Frankenstein and the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, amongst many other roles, often appearing opposite Christopher Lee, and occasionally...
- Priest - John SlaterJohn Slater (actor)John Slater was a British character actor usually seen as lugubrious, amiable cockney types.His father was an antiques dealer. After attending St. Clement Danes School, Slater began acting in farce at the Whitehall Theatre. He first appeared on film in 1938, remaining active in the industry up to...
- Detective Sergeant Willie Walker - Clifford EvansClifford EvansClifford Evans was a Welsh actor. As a conscientious objector he served in the Non-Combatant Corps in World War II.During the summer of 1934 he appeared in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Open Air Theatre in London....
- Heaven - Moultrie KelsallMoultrie KelsallMoultrie Rowe Kelsall was a Scottish film and television character actor, who began his career in the industry as a radio station director and television producer...
- Superintendent - George A. CooperGeorge A. CooperGeorge A. Cooper is an English actor.One of his best-known roles was as the caretaker Mr. Griffiths in the long-running children's TV series Grange Hill...
- Chief Inspector - Brona Boland - Mary Murphy
- Fergal Boland - Patrick Montgomery Murphy
- Michael Chow - Alexander
- Tsai ChinTsai Chin (actress)Tsai Chin , also known as Irene Chow, is a Chinese-born actress living in England.-Early life, family & education:Chin was born to Peking Opera actor Zhou Xinfang in 1936. She spent her early life in Shanghai. She had two short marriages which both ended in divorce. Her brother is Michael...
- Primrose - Sean Lynch - Slick
- Bernice Swanson - Meg (as Benice Swanson)
- Freddie StarrFreddie StarrFreddie Starr is an English comedian who became famous in the early 1970s. He is also an impressionist and singer, with a chart album After the Laughter and UK Top 10 single, "It's You", in March 1974 to his credit.-Early career:Under his real name, he appeared as a teenager in the film Violent...
- Tommy (as Fred Fowell) - Sheila Raynor - Mrs. Catlin
- Christopher Cooke - David Catlin
- Irene Arnold - Mrs. Baker
- Oonagh Quinn - Jilly Baker
- Melvyn HayesMelvyn HayesMelvyn Hayes is an English actor probably best known for playing the effeminate Gunner "Gloria" Beaumont in the 1970s BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum,-Early life and career:...
- Kid in Johnnie's Gang (uncredited)