Review of Three Steps in the Dark

The plot of this murder mystery was already a cliché when the film was made. An elderly, wealthy, and disagreeable bachelor summons his nephews and nieces, for whom he has no affection, to his large country house, other residents being his solicitor, an impassive butler, and a neurotic housekeeper. Over dinner the host informs his guests that he intends to change his will, but before he is able to do so he is found shot dead.

Fans of the genre will be familiar with the devices that detective fiction writers use to invent original solutions – the butler did it, they all did it, the victim did it, the detective did it – and in watching this film may well be anticipating an unusual twist which will add interest to the otherwise humdrum story. If so, they will be disappointed. The ending is abrupt, unsurprising, and anticlimactic.

The small part of the housekeeper is played by Katie Johnson, who two years later would win a BAFTA award as best actress for her performance as the old lady in The Ladykillers. The rest of the cast are all competent performers, many of whom went on to have busy TV careers in supporting roles without achieving star status.

This film, previously thought to be lost, is now published on DVD by the Odeon Entertainment Group.