The Long Arm

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, The Long Arm is available on streaming right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Jack Hawkins's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Long Arm is worth clearing space for. The Long Arm treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. Scotland Yard detectives attempt to solve a spate of safe robberies across England beginning with clues found at the latest burglary in London. The film is notable for using a police procedural style made popular by Ealing in their 1950 film The Blue Lamp. It is known in the US as The Third Key. Jack Hawkins and John Stratton lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1956. What makes The Long Arm hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, The Long Arm will keep you hooked. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Jack Hawkins anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.