A detective gambles his reputation and freedom to chase down criminals when informants become targets.
THE INFORMERS
When the detective in charge of investigating a series of bank robberies starts to get too close to the culprits, they set up a blackmail scheme to warn him off. But when the crooks begin to fall out with each other, the police learn the truth.
Quick Answer
The Informers is a 1963 British crime drama thriller directed by Ken Annakin about a Scotland Yard detective who continues to use informants against orders and is framed for corruption while investigating a series of bank robberies.
Programmer's Pick
With its hard-nosed Scotland Yard politics and a lead detective who simply won't play by the new rules, The Informers is a study in stubborn grit versus institutional inertia. For fans of criminal gangs and fraught informant games, this one turns up the noir—British style.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
Directed by Ken Annakin and based on Douglas Warner's novel, this British crime film was distributed in the UK by The Rank Organisation and in the U.S. under alternate titles, reflecting its transatlantic reach and adaptation from literature.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
The film digs deep into the inner workings—and backroom tensions—of Scotland Yard as old and new guard methods clash.
Not just a whodunit but a who-can-you-trust, as the protagonist faces blackmail, betrayal, and a classic cinematic frame job.
Watch the villains' unity unravel as pressure mounts, letting the plot swerve into unpredictable territory.
When the system turns its back, it’s the detective’s wife and an outsider who join the fight—raising the emotional stakes.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Detective investigates bank robberies using informants
Criminal gang and corrupt framing
Murder, framing, and imprisonment of detective
1960s London and police environments
Questions from the Vault
Who directed The Informers? +
Ken Annakin directed The Informers.
How long is The Informers? +
The Informers has a runtime of 105 minutes.
What genre is The Informers? +
The Informers is a crime, drama, and thriller film.
Where can I watch The Informers? +
You can watch The Informers on SassyFlix.
How is Detective Johnnoe framed for corruption? +
After Johnnoe ignores orders and pursues his own lines of inquiry using informants, the criminals retaliate by framing him for corruption, leading to his arrest and imprisonment.
