Submitted by
John V Watson
Kine Weekly
24 March 1932
C.O.D.
United Artists. British (A). Featuring Garry Marsh, Hope Davey and Roland Culver. 5,967 feet. Release date not fixed.
A Fantastic, far-fetched crime drama, which vacillates between the serious and the unconsciously comic, with such uncertainty that it can never be taken seriously. The cast do all that is possible in the circumstances, but the material and the treatment defeat them. Quota booking for the not too creitical.
Story. - Peter Craven, down on his luck, breaks into a fashionable house in search of food, and finds that the sole occupant, Frances Brendon, is in distress. She tells him that her stepfather has been mysteriously murdered, and that she is suspected. Volunteering to help her, he hides the corpse in a railway cloakroom.
When he returns to inform her of his good work he finds the corpse back in its old position in the library. Following this, Frances' unscrupulous cousin arrives on the scene with a companion, and Peter deduces that the cousin is the murderer. By posing as a police doctor he is able to confirm his belief, and satisfy the authorities.
Acting. - Garry Marsh is a somewhat callous Peter, but he sets about his work with a cheery determination. Hope Davey is never equal to his emotional demands as Frances, and Roland Culver is a very obvious murderer.
Production. - Treated seriously and with some imagination, the story could have been turned into an eerie, sensational thriller, but the development is clumsy and it frequently happens that a situation which should have gripped the emotions only succeeds in provoking a smile. The players are never given an opportunity to settle down, and their uncertainty reflects on the entertainment.
Settings and Photography. - Appropriate interiors and exteriors result in a good London atmosphere, while lighting and photography are good.
Points of Appeal. - A few thrills and quota angle.
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