This film epitomises the way the British police were shown in the cinema of the 1950s.Working long hours with long suffering wife and child.Often working more like Sherlock Holmes than a modern detective.Doing things that would horrify modern Socco police.Taking a compact out with a cigarette box.Scratching blood stains off the front of a car by way of a pen knife.Relying on lucky breaks,such as the way that the getaway car is found.Also it has to be said that the ending has been made exciting by what would be considered slipshod police work.For some unexplained reason the burgular is not cuffed so he is able to get free.This initiates the chase,where rather improbably,Hawkins,clings on to the bonnet of a car travelling at speed.However i have to say that Jack Hawkins always rises above even mediocre material.Here as in many of his films he is constantly smoking,which contributed to his sad and untimely passing.
Review of The Third Key
