RICK'S REAL/REEL LIFE: Van Johnson in Hitchcock-Style ‘23 Paces to Baker Street’ 1956

Monday, April 20, 2026

Van Johnson in Hitchcock-Style ‘23 Paces to Baker Street’ 1956

Van Johnson plays a blind man who overs the kidnap plan of a child,
in 1956's "23 Paces to Baker Street."

I had never heard of 1956's 23 Paces to Baker Street, but read that it was considered Hitchcock-esque, which always gets my attention.

This Henry Hathaway-directed film was indeed Hitch-esque, in a good way. 23 Paces to Baker Street is the story of a blind playwright that overhears a plot to kidnap a child, only to become a target himself. The suspense flick has elements of Alfred Hitchcock classics Rear Window and The Man Who Knew Too Much, and 1967’s Hitch-like Wait Until Dark.

"23 Paces to Baker Street," a solid 1956 suspense film, in the Hitchcock style.

23 Paces to Baker Street stands on its own, despite Hitchcock comparisons, derived from Philip McDonald’s Warrant for X in1938. The popular British novelist also wrote The List of Adrian Messenger. Yet, the film does shape the story in the Hitchcock mold. The result is a solid and stylish suspense film.

A 20th Century Fox film in Cinemascope, 23 Paces to Baker Street is beautifully lensed, with a fair amount of eye-catching post-war London location shooting. Milton R. Krasner, one of Fox’s top cinematographers, does a fine job here. Henry Hathaway, perhaps Fox's best studio director, tells the story with some style and with a sure hand. These old pros were in the last hurrah of their studio tenure.

Van Johnson is a blind and bitter playwright in the 1956 mystery,
"23 Paces to Baker Street."

Van Johnson, whose stardom had peaked at this point, was doing some latter day dramatic roles. They seemed to tap into Van’s bitter and petulant off-camera side, as his star was fading at 40, post-MGM glory years. It works for the role as the blinded playwright, Phillip Hannon. Van’s acting is natural and not overdone, as he could be at times in his Metro heyday. Phillip now uses his other senses to compensate, and hence uses his playwright's listening skills to get a bead on the kidnappers.

Vera Miles got the closest to playing a glamorous Hitchcock blonde
in 1956's "23 Paces to Baker Street." Note the gray suit!

Vera Miles plays Van's ex-fiancee, Jean Lennox, who the playwright spurned in self-pity after his accident. Vera is quite pretty and does a good approximation of the game Hitchcock blonde, right down to the fitted gray suits. A shame Miles’ character wasn’t as carefree as Grace Kelly’s Lisa in Rear Window, instead of a long-suffering ex. Miles was 26 here, a promising starlet. As of April 2026, Vera is still with us, and turns 96 August 23!

Vera Miles was 26 the year "23 Paces to Baker Street" was released.

Cecil Parker is a scene-stealer as man servant Bob Matthews to Van’s tense playwright; Patricia Laffan (Quo Vadis villainess) is a shady lady governess from the employment agency; Estelle Winwood is the good egg bar maid from the pub: Natalie Norwick is sought-after Janet Murch; and Isobel Elsom is charming fun as Lady Syrett. A excellent supporting cast round out the various cops, bystanders, and bad guys in this tense mystery.

Estelle Winwood offers fun character flavor, in "23 Paces to Baker Street."

Once the unknown villains are on to the playwright's being on to them, the stakes become much higher, leading to some precarious moments for the blind man. The scene where Van's amateur detective is lured into a condemned building is a nail biter. The finale is very reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn's Wait Until Dark, but this movie came out a decade before, and it’s also exciting.

The villain, who's been stalking the blind playwright, about to be revealed,
in 1956's "23 Paces to Baker Street."

As Van's playwright, his manservant, and ex-girlfriend aid the police investigation, there are a few quirky surprises along the way. Alfred Hitchcock was so often imitated on film that the better examples are often called "Could Have Been Hitchcock." The main difference is that the imitations usually lack Hitch's twisted subtext. All in all, 23 Paces to Baker Street is a nifty little nail-biter!