Gideon Of Scotland Yard

[will.15]

I know IMDB says 118 minutes but that would be fairly unusual for a film of that type in 1958 surely? It's last few tv outings have been the 90 minute version (the print the BBC showed in 1987 was broadcast from 2.00pm to 3.40pm)

Why?

It's not a B movie.

John Ford was a well known director. he didn't hop on a plane to make a programmer.

[will.15]

It would seem a longer version still exists:

John Ford's GIDEON'S DAY (British Revival)
Doc Films (University of Chicago) - Friday, 7 and 9:15pm
This screening constitutes a major revival, not only because of its rarity (The last time it played in Chicago was over 10 years ago) but because it marks a unique chapter of John Ford's monumental career. GIDEON'S DAY was Ford's only film made in England and it was shot, like his preceding THE WINGS OF EAGLES, in unrestrained Technicolor. It follows the fashion of Ford's episodic films, like SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON or DONOVAN'S REEF, lingering on character and milieu instead of pushing ahead with narrative. It takes place over a day in the life of a Scotland Yard detective, yet this modest structure still allows for several confrontations with mortality (in the form of a sex-murder investigation and the death of the hero's colleague). According to Ford biographer Joseph McBride, the film "was something of a lark, enabling Ford to gratify his enjoyment of suspense novels" and his desire to spend time in the United Kingdom. McBride continues: "The director's usual mockery of the British is transformed into poking good-natured fun at the code of politeness and reserve Gideon and his colleagues are expected to follow in capturing even the most loathsome criminals.... After opening in England in March 1958, GIDEON'S DAY was treated atrociously by Columbia. It was not released in the United States until the following February, and then only as a second feature in black-and-white prints, cut by a third and retitled GIDEON OF SCOTLAND YARD." (Doc will be screening the original color version.) Stanley Kubrick fans will be interested to note the early contributions of production designer Ken Adam, who later designed the sets for DR. STRANGELOVE and BARRY LYNDON. (1958, 118 min, archival 35mm) BS
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More info at www.docfilms.uchicago.edu.

[CaptainWaggett]

Why?

It's not a B movie.

John Ford was a well known director. he didn't hop on a plane to make a programmer.

All 1950s 90 minute films are b-films? I'd be interested to find out if the longer version really is longer (I've seen plenty of films at film festivals which claim to be restored but are nothing of the sort ). The BFI seem to think the original release was 90 minutes

[Gerald Lovell]

According to the BBFC, Gideon's Day was passed for an "A" certificate on 5th February 1958 at 90 mins 57 secs. The DVD of Gideon of Scotland Yard was passed for a "PG" certificate for the (unreleased?) DD edition on 23rd September 2008 at 99 mins 30 secs.

[Gerald Lovell]

It didn't look widescreen to me.

[will.15]

Is the version being shown there the color or black and white version?

Never mind, i see now it is in color.

[Freddy]

I notice the info Will kindly put up says ' (1958, 118 min, archival 35mm)' would it being 35mm make a time difference, am quite ignorant in that respect.

[Freddy]

I'm afraid I found it really disappointing and hard to believe it was directed by John Ford. One problem is that episodic films like this often struggle to maintain interest and the editing isn't smooth. There is some appalling over-acting and Hawkins' Gideon is very ill-tempered which makes it hard to empathise with him. It's also a pity there are so few location shots - it's a very studio bound film.

Yes, the only location was the opening credits which had some nice tourist shots of London, though why 'London Bridge is falling down' is the music I don't know.

[Marky B]

When you say "somebody" do you mean someone on the associated forum or in a user review? Not in any data the IMDb have approved. It's listed as a UK production

Steve

Ta Ta
Marky B

[MovieDudeToo]

This brought back some nice memories for me. I remember Gideon's Way on TV. One of those good quality sixties shows.

I managed to spot Victor Harrington (and maybe Alf Mangan) plus half a dozen of my most wanted but failed to spot Billie Whitelaw anywhere. I've skimmed through a couple of times but cannot see her. Did anyone see her or maybe even a look-alike ??

[Gerald Lovell]

This brought back some nice memories for me. I remember Gideon's Way on TV. One of those good quality sixties shows.

I managed to spot Victor Harrington (and maybe Alf Mangan) plus half a dozen of my most wanted but failed to spot Billie Whitelaw anywhere. I've skimmed through a couple of times but cannot see her. Did anyone see her or maybe even a look-alike ??

I think I've featured this film in the "Sighted" thread, but I don't recall spotting Billie Whitelaw either.

[DaveK]

I found it hard to believe that it was made by the director of 'Stagecoach' and 'Grapes of Wrath'

[Steve Crook]

I notice the info Will kindly put up says ' (1958, 118 min, archival 35mm)' would it being 35mm make a time difference, am quite ignorant in that respect.

35mm, or any projected film, is shown at 24 frames per second. TV (in the UK) is shown at 25 frames per second. Your eye (& brain) can't tell the difference but it means that the film shown on TV is actually running slightly faster, so its run time will be shorter.

To check, take the running time given for the cinematic release, multiply by 24 & divide by 25. If that's not the same as the running time on TV (to within a minute or two) then there have probably been cuts made.

Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

35mm, or any projected film, is shown at 24 frames per second. TV (in the UK) is shown at 25 frames per second. Your eye (& brain) can't tell the difference but it means that the film shown on TV is actually running slightly faster, so its run time will be shorter.

To check, take the running time given for the cinematic release, multiply by 24 & divide by 25. If that's not the same as the running time on TV (to within a minute or two) then there have probably been cuts made.

Steve

So not only do I have to know how to set my PVR, I have to do maths as well?

[Steve Crook]

So not only do I have to know how to set my PVR, I have to do maths as well?

Of course. How can anyone survive without knowing some simple maths?


But really, this is only for people who wonder where every missing minute went if the actual run-time of a film (on TV or DVD etc) is different to the time given for the film in places like the BBFC or the IMDb.

If you don't fret about that sort of thing then you might survive without doing this highly complex calculation

Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

Of course. How can anyone survive without knowing some simple maths?


But really, this is only for people who wonder where every missing minute went if the actual run-time of a film (on TV or DVD etc) is different to the time given for the film in places like the BBFC or the IMDb.

If you don't fret about that sort of thing then you might survive without doing this highly complex calculation

Steve

Hurrah for that! It's stressful enough having to worry about aspect ratios

[RogerThornhill]

This brought back some nice memories for me. I remember Gideon's Way on TV. One of those good quality sixties shows.

I managed to spot Victor Harrington (and maybe Alf Mangan) plus half a dozen of my most wanted but failed to spot Billie Whitelaw anywhere. I've skimmed through a couple of times but cannot see her. Did anyone see her or maybe even a look-alike ??

This could be her, standing by the entrance, dressed in a blue skirt.

[Amethyst_Isle]

When Channel Four show films in a 110min slot that usually means the running time of the film is approx 90min-100mins long

[cassidy]

David Quinlan's book "British Sound Films" gives the running time of Gideon's Day as 91 minutes which ties in with Gerald's post.

[MovieDudeToo]

Just spent the last 5 hours crawling at a snails pace through this film, listening to every name used, collecting an image of every actor and generally scrutinising all possible ID errors etc. The conclusion is that your image Roger is the only one that looks anything like Billie Whitelaw. But saying that, I don't think it is clear enough to be certain. I think what is more likely to be the case is that either her part was cut or it is just a case of mistaken identity by a member of the public. I will have to put her in the unknowns for now until I get to see the full length version where Billie Whitelaw may still be found.

Also I noticed something odd in the credits. At the begining of the film Dianne Foster is top billing with Jack Hawkins yet in the end credits she is 25th (a position showing her proper place in the billing IMHO). Even IMDB and BFI have her as top although her part wasn't particularly big or important. Sorry for the rant but I was just wondering why this 'orrible' American bias has to pervade so many purely British films. I'm off for a nervous breakdown.