John Paddy Carstairs is not exactly the type of director I would normally associate with film noir, though some might argue that SLEEPING CAR TO TRIESTE (1948) fits that bill as much as DANCING WITH CRIME, and both are films of considerable quality. Carstairs I tend to connect more with the Norman Wisdom slapstick comedies of the 1950s and DANCING WITH CRIME is not without its comic moments.
Lamentably, baby-faced Richard Attenborough strikes me as too young and puny for his part. His fisticuffs with a couple of other fellows did not convince me, with quite a few clearly fake punches thrown in. That said, he comes across as quite likable, the main minuses being that he did not look like a soldier recently out of WWII action, too young to pair off with pretty Sheila Sim, and he disappears from the action for about 10' at a crucial point about three quarters into the flick.
Barry Barnes as the scheming and evil Baker warrants close attention but it is Barry Jones who steals the show as the slippery and clever top villain, who even gets to successfully impersonate a police inspector and so con Attenborough into disclosing some privileged information. Garry Marsh also plays with considerable verve and humor the role of Detective Sergeant Murray.
Typically competent cinematography, solid script, sharp dialogue.
Definitely worth watching.