The Second Mate

For the silent film, see The Second Mate (1928 film).

The Second Mate
Opening titles
Directed by	John Baxter
Written by	Anson Dyer Barbara K. Emary Jack Francis Geoffrey Orme
Produced by	John Baxter Barbara K. Emary
Starring	Gordon Harker Graham Moffatt
Cinematography	Arthur Grant
Edited by	Vi Burdon
Music by	Kennedy Russell
Production company	Elstree Independent Films
Distributed by	Associated British-Pathé
Release date	27 February 1950 (1950-02-27)
Running time	76 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Second Mate is a 1950 British crime film directed by John Baxter and starring Gordon Harker, Graham Moffatt and David Hannaford.[1][2] It was made at Southall Studios.

Cast

• Gordon Harker as Bill Tomkins
• Graham Moffatt as Paddy
• David Hannaford as Bobby
• Beryl Walkeley as Kate
• Charles Sewell as Joe
• Anne Blake as fortune teller
• Charles Heslop as Hogan
• Jane Welsh as Mrs. Mead
• Howard Douglas as Dusty
• Pauline Drewett as Pauline
• Tom Fallon as police officer
• Hamilton Keene as Bishop
• Pat Keogh as Spike
• Sam Kydd as Wheeler
• Johnnie Schofield

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The Second Mate is an economically made comedy thriller, designed to introduce the comedy team of Gordon Harker, Graham Moffat and David Hannaford, and made partly on Thames-side locations. The intention is commendable but The Second Mate, unfortunately, suffers from rather inexpert direction, a confused story (slow moving until the final chase scenes) and a comedy technique which relies over much on the familiar mannerisms of Gordon Harker."[3]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Juvenile adventure comedy melodrama. ... it is young David Hannaford's engaging performance in what is tantamount to the lead, and the picturesque backgrounds, rather than the extravagant plot that prevent it from shipping water. Disarmingly ingenuous, it should get over in other than tough joints. Acceptable screen 'children's hour'."[4]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Slow, rather crudely made comedy-thriller that even Harker's experience can't save."[5]

References

1. "The Second Mate". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
2. BFI.org
3. "The Second Mate". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 18 (204): 220. 1 January 1951 – via ProQuest.
4. "The Second Mate". Kine Weekly. 436 (2403): 31. 16 July 1953 – via ProQuest.
5. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 370. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.

External links

• The Second Mate at IMDb