i do not agree with one of the reviewer who compare this film to the american international picture . basil deardon have direct a brutally realistic film with an honest attempt to portray the rise of juvenile delinquency in post war england ( but without the sentimentality of blackboard jungle ) . the cinematography be excellent a it really capture the scariness and isolation of the huge housing estate . the estate look like an old prison . stanley baker be excellent a the hardened detective and reassign to the juvenile division urgent and urgent larceny five iced lolly . he find he be the butt of many joke . david mccallum show that he be one of britain top young talent of the fifty . ( he have a very different role in another stanley baker film hell driver ) . his portrayal of johnny and the fanatical following he inspire be very frightening . ann heywood be also very good a the cynical cathie . i wouldn not say there be a romantic subplot in it . detective jack truman be investigate a string of arson attack by someone label the firefly . just a he find evidence which could lead to a breakthrough and he be assign to the juvenile division he be pretty disgust at what he feel be not proper police work . amid all the heckling he get his first call out the 6 year old murphy twin be work a scam at the local lolly shop . take the twin home he meet their brother and the charismatic johnny and and their embittered sister cathie . he start to appreciate how life on the ghastly housing estate can turn young kid into criminal . a he get more involved with the family and he realise there be a strong link between the fire and johnny and a frightened chinese youth who work for a laundry . the local priest ( peter cushing in an unusual role and away from the hammer horror ) explain that when johnny be young he have rescue some people from a burn building and have be hail a hero . he want to recapture the feeling of importance and be useful and felt he could by light fire . the school siege be film in a very real way and the viewer felt the child fear the teacher ( think only of her own safety ) run off and lock them in the room with the frightened gunman . i think it be a really excellent film that try to show some of the social problem britain experience after the war . highly recommended .