Flame in the Streets

Racial tensions manifest themselves at home, work and on the streets during Bonfire Night in the burgeoning West Indian community of post-war Britain. Trades Union leader Jacko Palmer fights for the rights of a black worker but struggles with the news that his own daughter, Kathie, is planning to marry a West Indian, much against his own logic and the hysterical prejudice of his wife Nell.

Flame in the Streets was produced at Pinewood Studios by the Rank Organisation, with Willis moving the action from the 'hot summer night' of his original play to Guy Fawkes Night; filming began, appropriately, on 5 November 1960. Willis also added two characters, Gabriel Gomez and Harry Mitchell, who are only referred to in the play, and opened out the action to include a nocturnal street brawl in the final reel. Producer-director Roy Ward Baker made the film in CinemaScope, with a cast headed by John Mills, Sylvia Syms, Brenda De Banzie, Earl Cameron and Johnny Sekka.

The new title recalled Willis's earlier play No Trees in the Street, which had itself been filmed two years before. Flame in the Streets opened in London on 22 June 1961, with general release following on 9 July.[2] Daily Herald critic Paul Dehn called it a "terrifying and ferocious film",[3] whereas in The Spectator Isabel Quigley observed "its impact is mild," conceding "the obvious visual comparison between the outward and inward flames and fireworks" was effectively handled.[4] Willis's script was nominated for a 'Best British Screenplay' BAFTA award,[5] as well as being novelised by John Burke for Four Square Books.

In his autobiography (published in 2000), Roy Ward Baker noted the film had recently been shown at a Brixton cinema "to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival in Britain of the steamer Windrush, bringing Caribbeans to work here... Some of the older ones [in the audience] testified that it was a true picture of the conditions the incomers faced and in some areas still do face."[6]

• John Mills as Jacko Palmer
• Sylvia Syms as Kathie Palmer
• Brenda De Banzie as Nell Palmer
• Earl Cameron as Gabriel Gomez
• Johnny Sekka as Peter Lincoln
• Ann Lynn as Judy Gomez
• Wilfrid Brambell as Mr. Palmer senior
• Meredith Edwards as Harry Mitchell
• Newton Blick as Visser
• Glyn Houston as Hugh Davies
• Michael Wynne as Les
• Dan Jackson as Jubilee
• Cyril Chamberlain as Dowell
• Gretchen Franklin as Mrs. Bingham
• Harry Baird as Billy