Solo for Sparrow

Another of the entertaining Merton Park releases, loosely based on Edgar Wallace stories, that were shown before the main feature in the 60s. Many of the actors in these films went on to bigger things, some were destined to make a good living playing supporting roles and some didn't progress at all. In this film, the one and only Michael Caine plays Paddy, one of a group of crooks who steal the keys to a jewellery shop from the elderly shop assistant after she's locked up for the night, accidentally killing her. Although IMDb has Caine near the top of the cast list, his role is fairly minor, played with a brave attempt at an Irish accent. As usual for these films, the plot is quite intriguing and Glyn Houston as Inspector Sparrow puts in a credible performance as he tries to track down the thieves despite his superior's wishes that he should call in Scotland Yard to help. Nothing is quite what it seems and this turns out to be more than a straightforward robbery.

Top-billing goes to Anthony Newlands in a relatively brief role, but it's Glynn Houston who carries the film in the title role as the cop who goes it alone against a gang of violent desperados whose ranks include Michael Caine.

Although now recalled solely because Caine is in it (eleventh in the cast list but already eye-catching because of his height, but deprived of most of his lines during shooting due to his dire attempt at an Irish accent), it's actually chock-a-block with familiar faces right down to a brief appearance by Wanda Ventham as a waitress.

Even without the distinction of having Caine in it this is definitely one of the better Merton Park Edgar Wallace's thanks to Roger Marshall's sharp script and nifty direction by Gordon Flemyng (whose staging of the scene in which Houston interviews Neil McCarthy over a snooker table is worthy of Bergman). Almost everybody is of course dressed effortlessly immaculately as befits the era of JFK and Malcolm X; while Nadja Regin in one outdoor scene models a chic leather suit that probably cost more than the rest of the film's budget combined.