Assassin for Hire
Date: 1951
Director: Michael McCarthy
Production Company: Merton Park Studios
Stars: Sydney Tafler, Ronald Howard
Location(s): London
Region(s): London A-B
Storyline:
Appearing to be a rare stamp dealer, a professional assassin devotedly supports wife and musically talented younger brother.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Can you help:
If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 09 Aug 2022
On a Friday night in London’s Soho, Mr. McCullough walks alone through deserted streets. Looking eastward on Hanway Street in W1 with the Blue Posts public house in the right background. The pub was demolished in 1998.
The occupants of the unmarked police car were busy chasing a miscreant behind me! PW
- Capture 2
- 09 Aug 2022
McCullough turns a corner into a dimly lit side street. The corner of Hanway Street and Hanway Place.
As can be seen, the corner has been redeveloped. PW
- Capture 3
- 09 Aug 2022
Coming out of the shadows, Antonio Riccardi (Sydney Tafler) fires two shots at his target. Hanway Place W1.
No such deeds while I was on the street. PW
- Capture 4
- 09 Aug 2022
The following Friday, the 13th, Antonio carries out another killing, this time with terrible consequences. Facing the junction of Hanway Place and Hanway Street in W1. The location appears in several films including ‘Franklyn’, ‘Play it Cool’, ‘Rattle of a Simple Man’, 'Last Night in Soho' and ‘Expresso Bongo’. Gordon Hawtin advises that in 1957/1958 the corner building was a live venue and coffee bar called Chiquitos.
There would be more cover these days. PW
- Capture 5
- 09 Aug 2022
As the body is loaded into an ambulance, Detective Sergeant Stott (Gerald Case) and Detective Inspector Carson (Ronald Howard) begin their investigation at the scene of the murder. The corner of Hanway Place and Hanway Street W1 with an old St. Marylebone boundary bollard on the pavement.
The historic bollard has gone, but others remain. PW