| Dick Barton: Special Agent | |
| Director: | Alfred J. Goulding |
| Producer: | Henry Halstead |
| Based On: | the BBC radio serial |
| Starring: | Don Stannard George Ford |
| Music: | John Bath |
| Cinematography: | Stanley Clinton |
| Editing: | Eta Simpson |
| Studio: | Hammer Film Productions |
| Distributor: | Exclusive Films |
| Runtime: | 71 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
Dick Barton: Special Agent (released in the USA as Dick Barton, Detective) is a 1948 British second feature ('B')[1] spy film directed by Alfred J. Goulding and starring Don Stannard.[2] It was written by Goulding and Alan Stranks, adapted from the BBC radio serial Dick Barton – Special Agent. It was the first of three films that Hammer Film Productions made about the British agent, followed by Dick Barton at Bay 6and Dick Barton Strikes Back.[3]
Dick Barton and his colleagues Snowy and Jock are investigating smuggling when attempts are made on his life. It turns out there is a neo-Nazi plot to contaminate Great Britain's water supply.
Though critically unpopular, the film's commercial success prompted Hammer to make a number of movies based on radio and/or TV shows. It was released in the USA as Dick Barton, Detective.[4] [5]
Sky Cinema noted "schoolboy shenanigans from slick Dick and his (badly miscast) aides Jock and Snowy. More laugh-a-minute than thrill-a-minute, this was British 'B'-film making at its grimmest."[6]
DVD Talk wrote "the picture has an Ed Wood-like ineptitude."[7]
Allmovie blamed "too much comic relief and terrible pacing".