The Informers aka Underworld Informers (1963)

The Informers aka Underworld Informers (Dir: Ken Annakin, 1963).

Based upon Douglas Warner's novel Death of a Snout. The Informers, released in the US as Underworld Informers is a police procedural drama shot in a quasi-realist style. 

Chief Inspector 'Johnno' (Nigel Patrick) investigates the murder of an underworld informer or 'snout' (John Cowley) linked to a series of bank robberies masterminded by gangsters Bertie Hoyle (Derren Nesbitt) and Leon Sale (Frank Finlay). Hot on the their trail, the hoods set 'Johnno' up so as to appear to have accepted a bribe. On suspension, he takes the law into his own hands and with the help of Ruskin's brother sets to bring the gang to justice.

Ken Annakin was a talented filmmaker, prolific in his time but vastly underrated today. Associated with the Disney Studios throughout the 1950s, he directed the best of their British productions including The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952) and blockbuster Swiss Family Robinson (1960). In contrast to those family friendly adventures The Informers is a crime drama which, 56 years after release, still feels uncompromisingly gritty. 

Standouts among the cast are the distinctively voiced Nigel Patrick as the wronged 'Johnno' and Harry Andrews as his tough superintendent. Derren Nesbitt makes for a thoroughly unpleasant bad guy, while Margaret Whiting elicits sympathy as his long suffering girl. Impressing further down the cast is Colin Blakely as the brother of the murdered snout. 

The Informers can be seen as something of a ‘missing link’ between the depiction of the friendly copper of TVs Dixon of Dock Green (1955 -76) and the more complex characterisation of the police force in The Sweeney (1974-78). Indeed, the movie seems ahead of its time in its depiction of the police and their relationship with the criminal underworld. It benefits from use of London locations from the banks of the Thames to backstreet Soho dives, shot in crisp black and white by cinematographer Reginald Wyer. 

Some of the characters in Alun Falconer and Paul Durst's screenplay do border on stereotypes, particularly the depiction of middle class police opposed to largely cockney villains. The climatic big punch up between good(ish) guys and the bad guys does verge on the comic, but overall this is still fairly hard-hitting stuff. 

I admit to knowing little of The Informers before I watched it and am surprised it is not a better known film. With some stylish direction from Annakin and a quality cast it is a solidly entertaining, if occasionally nasty, gangland thriller.