Kinematograph Weekly said: "Human, thoughtful and down-to-earth crime melodrama, pivoting on the Old Bailey.... Finely acted, shrewdly directed and flawlessly staged, it should intrigue and grip all classes." [6] Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p.305. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5. Plot finds Attenborough as a good guy sort who, through a series of circumstances, is accused of murdering a little girl. As the strain begins to tell on he and his loved ones, it's looking increasingly likely he could well be found guilty. The judge has troubles of his own - his wife is in hospital for an operation that she doesn't survive. Despite receiving this awful news he is kind and fatherly towards a very young witness. (Though he abandons his poor daughter, sobbing off-stage.) I can't help feel that I have seen this kind of story loads of times. It brings nothing new except the relationship between the prosecuting barrister and his son as the junior defence barrister who is trusted to defend Attenborough due to the senior defence lead being called away.

The film was a collaboration of George King Productions and British Aviation Pictures Limited for The British Lion Film Corporation. Solid British film making at its best from both the cast and crew. I have always liked Richard Attenborough. He was a true "great" and this film shows how versatile he was as an actor. I cannot rate it as a 5 star film, merely because some of the story is a little too "circumstantial" for me. I will try to explain. During a recess Peter Tanner sees Clifford outside the courthouse, giving a sweet to a young girl. He identifies the sweet as the same as found on Irene. Tanner recalls Clifford for cross-examination, confronting him with the sweets, and instructing a street musician to play "Oranges and Lemons". Clifford breaks down, and Manning is cleared. Fans of the "Willy Wonka" stories will be fascinated to hear a reference to "Gobstoppers", obviously a real type of British treat. The kids involved in the prank obviously went out of their way to harass complete strangers, and in the case of cab driver Attenborough, nobody saw him leave after the young victim managed to get away from him. The shadow of a man wearing a hat is seen ominously at the listings of the day's cases, giving a hint to the possibility that he was the perpetrator. By the numbers murder mystery drama starring Richard Attenborough as a London cab driver who is on trial on a murder charge accused of murdering a young girl.Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The film's main point of interest is the attempt to build up a convincing picture of the Old Bailey and the legal procedure attending a murder trial. The trial thus possesses a greater degree of authenticity than is usual, but the script clutters up the main story with several unncecessary irrelevances.... Harry Welchman makes a welcome appearance as the Judge; the rest of the playing is as variable as the script." [7] Variety said: "Suspense thriller good for local consumption but under-dramatized for U.S. taste.... The youngsters are all natural, and at times amusing. Lance Comfort keeps to his usual high standard of direction." [8] The trial begins at London's Old Bailey, where Tanner is opposed by his father, prosecuting counsel Geoffrey Tanner. It soon becomes evident that things are going badly for Manning. Jurors are seen expressing their belief in Manning’s guilt even before the trial is over. Irene's mother offers hearsay evidence that Manning had given the victim sweets, and accusing Manning of murder. Following the testimony of prosecution witness Horace Clifford, all the evidence seems to point to Manning's guilt. I couldn't help feeling that some of the sub-plots were unnecessary (the judge's family troubles make no difference to the story and the barrister's illness seemed a somewhat elaborate way of introducing the inexperienced son.) Is this, then, the story of an innocent man, the failure of British justice (which it could easily have been), or the skill of a promising, but inexperienced barrister? (Or all three?)

It was interesting to see how the police concocted their case, based upon purely circumstantial evidence and the evidence of some not necessarily reliable witnesses. Their attempt at forensic science would be laughable with today's technology, but it is interesting to see how the concept was thought of and how things such as soil samples were examined and used to make the case. There are a few sub-plots; the trial judge has family issues and the man's barrister becomes ill, and his inexperienced son is asked to take on the case. An ordinary, peaceful man (Tom Banning - Attenborough) leaves home one morning, on his way to work at a local taxi rank. He bids farewell to his wife and, en-route, encounters some local children, who are playing and making a slight nuisance of themselves. The war is only a few years distant and there are still bombed-out houses to be seen, which make great playgrounds for the children. His gentle and honest nature, see him "taken in" by the antics of a young girl, who claims to have lost her doll (it's April Fools Day). For some reason, despite it making him late, he decides to help the girl find her toy. However, it turns out that she was making it all up and, as soon as he finds out, he leaves and makes his way to work. Shortly afterwards, the girl is murdered and the suspicion turns on the taxi driver. The remainder of the film centres upon his defence and the trial. I probably enjoyed this movie for all the wrong reasons. I love a courtroom drama, and this one gives unusual glimpses of the court's "cast" waiting in the wings. The jury waiting to be selected (or not). Court officers dishing round papers. Cleaning ladies polishing the marble floor. The judge and his supporters gathering in the corridor. The clerk handing His Lordship the traditional nosegay (Sweet Williams).

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