| The Secret Tunnel | |
| Director: | William C. Hammond |
| Producer: | Frank A. Hoare |
| Screenplay: | William C. Hammond |
| Editing: | Eric Hodges |
| Music: | Norman Demuth |
| Starring: | Anthony Wager Ivor Bowyer Thelma Rea |
| Cinematography: | A.T. Dinsdale |
| Studio: | Merton Park G.B. Children's Entertainment FIlms |
| Runtime: | 37 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
The Secret Tunnel is a 1947 British children's comedy-drama film directed by William C. Hammond and starring Anthony Wager, Ivor Bowyer and Thelma Rea.[1] [2] The screenplay was by Hammond based on the novel by Mary Cathcart Borer. It was produced by Frank A. Hoare for Cinema Clubs for Boys and Girls, a predecessor of the Children's Film Foundation, and made by Merton Park/G.B. Children's Entertainment FIlms.
Antiques collector Roger Henderson returns from abroad to his stately home to find a valuable Rembrandt painting missing. His son Roger, together with the handyman's son John, decide to solve the mystery. It turns out that that the housekeeper is in cahoots with a gang of thieves, who are using a secret tunnel leading to the house to escape with the stolen goods. Roger and John take on the criminals and bring them to justice.
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This excellently made film is ideal entertainment for children, with plenty of mystery and excitement pleasantly devoid of the "horrific" element."[3]
Kine Weekly wrote: "G.B. Children's Entertainment Films have made a number of Boys' Clubs pictures lately and this is not the first to turn out equally suitable [for] adult audiences. The secret is natural character drawing, sure timing, wholesome atmosphere and, above all, a capacity to appeal to the boy in every man. Jolly adventure farce, it has the average full quota fill-up beaten to a frazzle. ... Wholesome and exciting story, competent and unaffected acting by young players, picturesque surroundings and thrilling finale."[4]
Picture Show described it as "a lively comedy-drama."[5]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Competent children's film; lots of mystery."[6]