This story takes
place in London and it is based on a novel by Philip MacDonald. Famous American playwright
Phillip Hannon has a hit play in the West End. He is making revisions and he feels this is mundane
work. He has backed away from life
after a recent and permanent loss of his vision. He has also broken off his engagement to his long time secretary
Jean Lennox. She has taken an
apartment in London to see if she can help Phillip begin to live again. Phillip walks 23 paces to a bar on
Baker Street alone and his manservant Bob Matthews stops by later to walk home
with Phillip. Bob doesn’t like
Phillip walking to the bar alone but Phillip feels he needs some independence. Phillip overhears a man and woman
talking behind him and he knows they are plotting criminal activity. He thinks it is the kidnapping of a
child. The police say they will
investigate but Phillip knows they are only placating him.
This is interesting
and it feels like an Alfred Hitchcock film. Phillip records on a tape what he heard from the conversation between
the man and woman. He asks the
barmaid what they looked like but she can only vaguely describe them. Since he doesn’t know what they look
like it and we don't either it is difficult for the viewer to piece the clues together for the crime. I didn’t know how to judge who the good
and bad people were. I just
knew that Phillip was at a disadvantage and anything could happen to him. 3 ½* (I liked this movie)
103
min, Mystery directed by Henry Hathaway with Van Johnson, Vera Miles, Cecil
Parker, Patricia Laffan, Maurice Denham, Estelle Winwood, Liam Redmond, Isobel
Elsom, Martin Benson, Natalie Norwick.
Note: Imdb 7.0 out of 10, 63% audience on
Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 3.7* out of 5* with 36 reviews, TCM Leonard Maltin 3*
out of 4*.
Special
Note: Filmed in Barkers of
Kensington, Queens Gate Lodge, Kensington Gardens and London, England, UK. The title is only mentioned once in this film and there
is a mistake with Bob putting on Phillip’s scarf twice.
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