Although a definite Hollywood production with a couple of American leads, 23 PACES TO BAKER STREET is a London-set adventure actually filmed in our capital. It was shot by the reliable Henry Hathaway, whose lengthy career is studded with exciting adventures, war films, and dramas with a sheen of quality to them. This one is no exception.
As the viewer watches the story unfold, quite slowly at first, it becomes quickly apparent that this film was heavily inspired by REAR WINDOW. The structure and narrative is almost identical, with Jimmy Stewart's invalidity replaced by Van Johnson's blindness. The plot seems a little insignificant at first, but there are some strong set-pieces to keep it moving along, particularly the delightfully funny scene in which Cecil Parker's put-upon manservant tails a lead.
The stakes are raised in the second half of the film with certain sequences right out of Hitchcock, who is of course a big inspiration for Hathaway. The fog-enshrouded London scenes look great and fine performances are elicited from bit players including Liam Redmond (whose friendly role hearkens back to FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT) and Patricia Laffan as a femme fatale. Van Johnson was never a top tier lead but he's fine here and convincing as the blind man and Vera Miles is equally good as the Grace Kelly stand-in. The last part of the film is as suspenseful and exciting as you could hope for.
As the viewer watches the story unfold, quite slowly at first, it becomes quickly apparent that this film was heavily inspired by REAR WINDOW. The structure and narrative is almost identical, with Jimmy Stewart's invalidity replaced by Van Johnson's blindness. The plot seems a little insignificant at first, but there are some strong set-pieces to keep it moving along, particularly the delightfully funny scene in which Cecil Parker's put-upon manservant tails a lead.
The stakes are raised in the second half of the film with certain sequences right out of Hitchcock, who is of course a big inspiration for Hathaway. The fog-enshrouded London scenes look great and fine performances are elicited from bit players including Liam Redmond (whose friendly role hearkens back to FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT) and Patricia Laffan as a femme fatale. Van Johnson was never a top tier lead but he's fine here and convincing as the blind man and Vera Miles is equally good as the Grace Kelly stand-in. The last part of the film is as suspenseful and exciting as you could hope for.