Loaded with funny stuff and nutty characters; by the same director who did King Kong. In fact, it's so foggy that we can't even see out a hotel window
Richard (Robert Armstrong) putters around his room, and goes out; he tries to get acclimated to the all-embracing fog. Somewhat naively, he lets himself into a house to ask the way.
The owner more or less sizes him up, then Rose (Helen Mack) comes in. So, they gives him a drink and discuss the alleged crime. Rose starts chatting up Richard. He overheard the Major (Henry Stevenson) talk about a body. Then, the 'corpse', Jim (Ralph Bellamy), who's indeed injured, pops in. He tells them that he Major isn't her real uncle--plausible, since she never met him before--and that guy's actually involved in a criminal gang.
Anyway, Jim gives them an address to look up; so, Richard and Rose are on their way, collecting a Burglar (Roland Young) on the way. They're really in search of Regan (John Milgan). Meanwhile, back at the Major's, Jim, who's an American agent, attempts to blackmail the old man. Apparently, he has dirt on the Major. Back with the amateur sleuths, they enter a swanky party. It's Lady Rockingham's (Laura Hope Crews) place. Cool fish-out-of-water bit as Richard has to pretend to be a servant.
And again, in his next conversation, he has to put on. The burglar is waiting on the roof, as Rose retrieves him for an undercover assignment. Its easy to forget that there's a purpose behind all of this...not really. Finally, all three of them leave. Then there's the usual problem--no one can find their way. That whole party scene was a distraction; they still need to find Regan. They almost lose Jim's cigarette case with the secret message.
At Regan's, they ask him what's going on, and tell him about what happened to Jim. Turns out that they're crooks too. Now Regan has the letters; he's a "double-crossing, dirty, blackmailer" that's because they take Rose away, and tie up Richard. Luckily, the burglar's just outside. He frees Richard, but now Rose is tossed in a sack. Conveniently, the unsuspecting Regan goes to look in on Richard, and gets ambushed.
The two good guys escape. The crooks make off with the sack, but it's not Rose. She and Richard skulk about while Regan discovers that it's the The Burglar in the sack. Now, Richard confronts Jim, who's just showed up. Then Richard insinuates that Regan's double-crossing him. Everyone shows up at Regan's place. After matching wits with the crooks, Richard gets the only gun. He's the big man now.
Except that we get the old ambush in the dark thing. That alerts two cops. While they attempt to sort things out, the good guys escape to the roof. after the fight scene denouement, all's well. And so, Richard proposes to Rose. The end.
This is about as face-paced as they come; truly a B-picture, but nicely-done. The tone is very light; nonetheless, there's actual danger lurking not far away at almost every moment. That gives the snappy dialogue and goofy characters something to play against. so. to the extent that we slide toward the edge of our seats, it's both because of the mystery as well as the comedy.
This all works because of the good performances from top to bottom. In fact, there's so much going on, and so quickly, that the ultimate amusement might be that we really don't know what the criminals are up to, and what everyone's risking their necks for . There's sketchy references to 'government secrets', but the emphasis lies in unfolding the drama, not explaining it.
It's almost too absurd that the long party scene is completely irrelevant. It does set up the improvisational skills of all three heroes, has some great situations and lines, and helps Rose and Richard get together. But what's the point? After all, they only 'dropped in' accidentally.
On the other hand, this might be the best scene in the movie; we might as well say what's the point of all the business at Regan's. That stuff is more or less conventional the serial escape from peril and turn the tables on the bad guys action.
A fine way to spend an hour, in what is nearly a sub-genre, the London After Dark mystery.
The owner more or less sizes him up, then Rose (Helen Mack) comes in. So, they gives him a drink and discuss the alleged crime. Rose starts chatting up Richard. He overheard the Major (Henry Stevenson) talk about a body. Then, the 'corpse', Jim (Ralph Bellamy), who's indeed injured, pops in. He tells them that he Major isn't her real uncle--plausible, since she never met him before--and that guy's actually involved in a criminal gang.
Anyway, Jim gives them an address to look up; so, Richard and Rose are on their way, collecting a Burglar (Roland Young) on the way. They're really in search of Regan (John Milgan). Meanwhile, back at the Major's, Jim, who's an American agent, attempts to blackmail the old man. Apparently, he has dirt on the Major. Back with the amateur sleuths, they enter a swanky party. It's Lady Rockingham's (Laura Hope Crews) place. Cool fish-out-of-water bit as Richard has to pretend to be a servant.
And again, in his next conversation, he has to put on. The burglar is waiting on the roof, as Rose retrieves him for an undercover assignment. Its easy to forget that there's a purpose behind all of this...not really. Finally, all three of them leave. Then there's the usual problem--no one can find their way. That whole party scene was a distraction; they still need to find Regan. They almost lose Jim's cigarette case with the secret message.
At Regan's, they ask him what's going on, and tell him about what happened to Jim. Turns out that they're crooks too. Now Regan has the letters; he's a "double-crossing, dirty, blackmailer" that's because they take Rose away, and tie up Richard. Luckily, the burglar's just outside. He frees Richard, but now Rose is tossed in a sack. Conveniently, the unsuspecting Regan goes to look in on Richard, and gets ambushed.
The two good guys escape. The crooks make off with the sack, but it's not Rose. She and Richard skulk about while Regan discovers that it's the The Burglar in the sack. Now, Richard confronts Jim, who's just showed up. Then Richard insinuates that Regan's double-crossing him. Everyone shows up at Regan's place. After matching wits with the crooks, Richard gets the only gun. He's the big man now.
Except that we get the old ambush in the dark thing. That alerts two cops. While they attempt to sort things out, the good guys escape to the roof. after the fight scene denouement, all's well. And so, Richard proposes to Rose. The end.
This is about as face-paced as they come; truly a B-picture, but nicely-done. The tone is very light; nonetheless, there's actual danger lurking not far away at almost every moment. That gives the snappy dialogue and goofy characters something to play against. so. to the extent that we slide toward the edge of our seats, it's both because of the mystery as well as the comedy.
This all works because of the good performances from top to bottom. In fact, there's so much going on, and so quickly, that the ultimate amusement might be that we really don't know what the criminals are up to, and what everyone's risking their necks for . There's sketchy references to 'government secrets', but the emphasis lies in unfolding the drama, not explaining it.
It's almost too absurd that the long party scene is completely irrelevant. It does set up the improvisational skills of all three heroes, has some great situations and lines, and helps Rose and Richard get together. But what's the point? After all, they only 'dropped in' accidentally.
On the other hand, this might be the best scene in the movie; we might as well say what's the point of all the business at Regan's. That stuff is more or less conventional the serial escape from peril and turn the tables on the bad guys action.
A fine way to spend an hour, in what is nearly a sub-genre, the London After Dark mystery.