Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Crappy film

Admirable film.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

By the humble standards of the Children's Film Foundation, this five-episode serial is surprisingly well produced with lots of stylishly moody on-location photography, a reasonably suspenseful plot and -- best of all -- a really outstanding cast led by young Anthony Newley, and featuring Bernard Lee, Wally Patch, Ronald Shiner, John Longden, Billie Brook and Michael McKeag. I'd never heard of director Darrell Catling before, but he did a really good job here. In fact, the movie not only looks surprisingly realistic and expensively produced, but provides solid entertainment for adults as well as children. The pacing is always smart and there is only one weak performance (by a poorly made-up support player) in the entire movie. In fact, the serial was so popular at kids' matinées, it was re-issued in 1951 as "The Adventures of Dusty Bates". This is the version now available on an excellent Alpha DVD. Notice the cut when one of the characters is clobbered. The censor allowed this in 1947, but changed his mind for the '51 re-issue!

Great to see Anthony Newley's film debut in this dated, but so appealing, British serial. Watching it now, it's clunky and outmoded, but enormously appealing and quaint. After a slowish opening episode, the action does pick up and the chase sequences, cliffhanging finales and brisk dialogue all add to the charm of the piece. In a similar way to Richard Attenborough's portrayal as "The Guinea Pig," the three actors playing the lead roles, as the children, are obviously older than their characters in the film, which all adds to the novelty value. It is also clear to see the obvious potential of the versatile and under-rated Anthony Newley, who went on to have a great career as an actor and singer. The movie is a total rarity these days, but is well worth seeing if the chance arises.

Gloriously dated five part serial, starring Anthony Newley in his first big role. Its all here, smugglers, hidden gems, "get the kid", cliffhangers et all! Even at this young age you can see the start of the enormous talent of Anthony Newley, a much under-rated actor/singer/entertainer in Britain, who was more appreciated in the USA. This is British cinema of the day, not always the best but keeping the industry rolling. Very rare now but for historians and film buffs an interesting treat! Paul Goodhead - President of The Anthony Newley Appreciation Society.