Bellman and True

Bellman and True
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard Loncraine
Written byRichard Loncraine
Desmond Lowden
Michael Wearing
Based onBellman and True
by Desmond Lowden
Produced byChristopher Neame
Michael Wearing
Starring
CinematographyKen Westbury
Edited byPaul Green
Music byColin Towns
Distributed byHandMade Films
Release date
  • 1987 (1987)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$226,944

Bellman and True is a 1987 film based on the novel of the same name by Desmond Lowden. The film was written and directed by Richard Loncraine. It stars Bernard Hill, Derek Newark and Richard Hope.

The title comes from an old Cumberland song "D’ye ken John Peel", specifically the lyric:

Yes, I ken John Peel and Ruby too,
Ranter and Ringwood, Bellman and True.
From a find to a check, from a check to a view,
From a view to a death in the morning.

The title uses a pun in the term Bellman which in the film's case refers to a criminal who specialises in disabling intruder alarm systems.