Let's be realistic.

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

When I came across this I, as is my habit, checked out the IMDb rating and reviews. I was intrigued that it had such a high score for an older movie and gave it a shot. I'm glad that I did. While it did amble along a bit, the plot was quite good. It had me fooled right up until the end, without being silly or stretching credence. The acting, as has been pointed out, is wooden by modern standards but therein lies some of it's charm. It is after all more than 80 years old. The scenery and mores are of a time gone by and are a nice glimpse into an England between the wars.It's also interesting to watch Loretta young's older sister, Sally Blane in the role of Sylvia Kennett.So, the bottom lie is that should you have a Sunday afternoon free and this film comes along, give it a go.

I'd be hard put to think of anyone who would deliberately seek this one out; it's the kind of thing you stumble across when you start zapping the channels at two a.m. when you arrive home half in the bag though even then it's doubtful if any television channel would actually buy it. In my case I was waiting for a film to start at the NFT and with an hour or so to kill I wandered into the Mediatheque to see what was on offer. I'd never actually seen Nigel Playfair though I had, of course, heard of him so I thought I'd give it a whirl, after all, how bad could it be? Not only Playfair but Lewis Casson and a young Anthony Bushell looking very much like the old Anthony Bushell. Turned out to be a fairly bland effort, totally harmless and very much of its time. Slightly interesting as another example of an England that never was.

A straightforward murder mystery told well. Allowing for differences in acting methods since then and the technical capabilities of film just about as good as any supporting feature made in the 1930s. One or two technical glitches on the print I've seen do not detract from enjoyment of the story which is your classic Sunday Afternoon Old Film.Lots of local colour and scenes of ordinary life in a village for the period makes for interesting viewing. There are enough Red Herrings to keep the plot ticking over.For those who like trivia: Michael Bilton (Old Ned in To the Manor Born) is to be seen fleetingly in the garden fête scene as a very young man sporting a straw boater.

Classic British black & white movie from the early 30s starring the great Phyllis Dare in one of her few movie appearances. Phyllis was a child star from the 1890s and the sister of Zena Dare who was in My Fair Lady. Both were leading Picture Postcard Beauties at the turn of last century