A Case for PC 49

{{Infobox film

| name = A Case for PC 49

| image =File:A Case for PC 49.jpg

| caption =

| director = Francis Searle

| producer = Anthony Hinds

| writer = Vernon Harris
Francis Searle
Alan Stranks

| narrator =

| starring = Brian Reece
Joy Shelton
Christine Norden

| music = Frank Spencer

| cinematography = Walter J. Harvey

| editing = James Needs

| studio = Hammer Films

| distributor = Exclusive Films

| released = {{Film date|1951|08}}

| runtime = 80 minutes

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

A Case for PC 49 is a 1951 British second feature ('B'){{Cite book |last=Chibnall |first=Steve |title=The British 'B' Film |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=BFI/Bloomsbury |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=78}} mystery film directed by Francis Searle and starring Brian Reece, Joy Shelton and Christine Norden.{{Cite web |title=A Case for PC 49 |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150024391 |access-date=3 October 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}} It was written by Vernon Harris, Francis Searle and Alan Stranks, and made by Hammer Films at Bray Studios. The film was based on a popular radio series, which already been adapted into the 1949 film The Adventures of PC 49.

Cast

Brian Reece as Archibald Berkeley-Willoughby
Joy Shelton as Joan Carr
Christine Norden as Della Dainton
Leslie Bradley as Victor Palantine
George McLeod as Inspector Wilson
Campbell Singer as Sgt. Wright
Jack Stewart as Cutler
Michael Balfour as Chubby Price
Michael Ripper as George Steele
Joan Seton as Elsie
Edna Morris as Mrs. Bott
John Sharp as Desk Sergeant
Frank Hawkins as Police Sergeant
John Barry as Pewter
John Warren as Coffee Dan

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The film follows the pattern of the radio series and the previous P.C. 49 films: a brutal crime story lightened by the well worn comic atitude adopted by Brian Reece. The many moments of suspense too often end in elaborate anti-climaxes and the complicated plot draws to an over-simplified and abrupt ending."{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1951 |title=A Case for PC 49 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305814937 |journal=The Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=18 |issue=204 |pages=310 |url-access=subscription |via=ProQuest}}

Picturegoer wrote: "Provided you're not too exacting, you'll find eighty minutes in the custody of P.C. 49 quite a hectic experience. I did. I think the youngsters will enjoy it, too, despite the view of the censor, who's fitted it out with an 'A' certificate."{{Cite journal |date=18 August 1951 |title=A Case for PC 49 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1705093358 |journal=Picturegoer |volume=22 |issue= |pages=17 |url-access=subscription |via=ProQuest}}