(1948) John Bentley, Dinah Sheridan, Margaretta Scott, Abraham Sofaer, Alan Wheatley, Jack Raine. British crime films didn’t come much better than this. Bentley is wonderful as the writer/detective Paul Temple. In this snappy thriller, Temple delves into the murder of several different women, all of whom were patients of a strange, bearded doctor, wonderfully played by the sinister Sofaer. The story finally leads to a crumbling monastery that looks like the inside of Dracula’s castle. Temple and his wife are tied to a pillar, the villain opens a crumbling stone gate, and water begins to rush in! Will they escape? There are many great moments in this film including a wonderful scene when a woman, under hypnosis, begins to give information that will give the killer’s identity. The light goes out, a gunshot is heard, followed by a scream! This is a stylish, very likable murder mystery with some great sinister moments and gothic touches. Very cool. NOTE: Our DVD master was derived from an old video master of a 16mm print originally transferred on an RCA TK-27 telecine unit back in the 1980s. It looks a little softer than our newer transfers, but is still most watchable. From 16mm.
|
|