Initially this movie was set to star Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave, fresh from their success in "A Lady Vanishes" but something happened and Barry Barnes turns up as the earnest young lawyer who has a belief in the young nurse - he's okay but lacks Redgrave's charisma.
After being cleared of a murder charge Nurse Graham (Lockwood) is confidant that her acquittal will be able to secure her another nursing post - but people remember the old saying "where there's smoke, there's fire"!! One day she finds a mysterious package, it is a "help wanted" section of a newspaper with a "nurse required" ad circled (that she didn't even question who would have sent it was a major hole in the story but oh well...). And since Emlyn Williams, who specialized in sinister spivs had already made an appearance at her trial, it had his handy work all over it!! Ann applies but sick of rejection uses the name Ann Lovell: she is given the job with no references and, surprise, surprise, Williams plays Tracy, the supercilious butler and also, no surprises, you know exactly where the movie is heading!!
Tracy is involved with Mrs. Bentley (Margaretta Scott) whose invalid husband takes to Ann (even changing his will!!). Although he doesn't realise it, he is not long for this world and the dynamic duo think that by hiring Ann, whose nursing career is already in tatters, they have found the perfect "patsy" for their scheme. The murder seems foolproof and once again Ann is on trial for her life - all seems lost, people have heard "I didn't know he'd changed his will" all before!! - until Stephen comes up with an ingenious twist - but will it work!!
Not really a work to hold up to Reed's best ie "The Fallen Idol" but despite some plot holes it runs smoothly, thanks to a solid cast. Margaret Lockwood is perfect as Ann, not really grasping what is happening to her but for me it is Emlyn Williams as the nasty Tracy who rivets the viewers attention!!
Highly Recommended.
After being cleared of a murder charge Nurse Graham (Lockwood) is confidant that her acquittal will be able to secure her another nursing post - but people remember the old saying "where there's smoke, there's fire"!! One day she finds a mysterious package, it is a "help wanted" section of a newspaper with a "nurse required" ad circled (that she didn't even question who would have sent it was a major hole in the story but oh well...). And since Emlyn Williams, who specialized in sinister spivs had already made an appearance at her trial, it had his handy work all over it!! Ann applies but sick of rejection uses the name Ann Lovell: she is given the job with no references and, surprise, surprise, Williams plays Tracy, the supercilious butler and also, no surprises, you know exactly where the movie is heading!!
Tracy is involved with Mrs. Bentley (Margaretta Scott) whose invalid husband takes to Ann (even changing his will!!). Although he doesn't realise it, he is not long for this world and the dynamic duo think that by hiring Ann, whose nursing career is already in tatters, they have found the perfect "patsy" for their scheme. The murder seems foolproof and once again Ann is on trial for her life - all seems lost, people have heard "I didn't know he'd changed his will" all before!! - until Stephen comes up with an ingenious twist - but will it work!!
Not really a work to hold up to Reed's best ie "The Fallen Idol" but despite some plot holes it runs smoothly, thanks to a solid cast. Margaret Lockwood is perfect as Ann, not really grasping what is happening to her but for me it is Emlyn Williams as the nasty Tracy who rivets the viewers attention!!
Highly Recommended.