My golly, what a fabulous movie - I always loved Emlyn Williams in
whatever movie he made and even though he excelled as smarmy spivs
I've never seen him in the same characterization twice. Here he is in a
rare lovable larrikin role as "Shorty" Matthews, just released from prison
but already fleeing for his life from a murder charge. His old girl friend
Alice has been strangled and even though his whole demeanor cries out
"I'm a good guy" none of his friends believe him (maybe they've seen
too many of his movies)!! He plunges into the night world of long distance
lorry driving, hoping to lose himself but a face from his past emerges
with Molly, a dance hall friend of Alice's, who is trying to hitch hike back
to London but is mistaken for a "lorry girl" - women who ride with the
lorry drivers in exchange for favours!!
There's some fabulous cinematography - when Shorty comes across her, she is fighting off a man in the middle of the road, lights blazing on their rain drenched silhouettes. Later on, Shorty evades capture and there is a labyrinth of cross cutting, jumps, darts, again against a rain soaked background. He eventually returns to London and with Molly's help find a boarded up abandoned house - but they have been followed!!
Enter Ernest Thesiger - scene stealer extraordinare!! He plays Hoover and there's something very odd about him. He keeps a scrapbook about the dance hall murder which he hides behind his books on "Sex and Philosophy", not to mention his "Paris After Dark" magazines. He is a frequenter of dance halls and is pretty disgusted that "Shorty" has captured all the attention for the murder, he feels the murderer was far more intellectual and organized than just a petty criminal. Once Thesiger enters he is absolutely rivetting.
Teddington Studios had an interesting history - built in the 1910s, only one film had been released before Warners bought it in 1931 to turn out quota quickies finishing with "The Dark Tower" in 1943.
Very Recommended!!
There's some fabulous cinematography - when Shorty comes across her, she is fighting off a man in the middle of the road, lights blazing on their rain drenched silhouettes. Later on, Shorty evades capture and there is a labyrinth of cross cutting, jumps, darts, again against a rain soaked background. He eventually returns to London and with Molly's help find a boarded up abandoned house - but they have been followed!!
Enter Ernest Thesiger - scene stealer extraordinare!! He plays Hoover and there's something very odd about him. He keeps a scrapbook about the dance hall murder which he hides behind his books on "Sex and Philosophy", not to mention his "Paris After Dark" magazines. He is a frequenter of dance halls and is pretty disgusted that "Shorty" has captured all the attention for the murder, he feels the murderer was far more intellectual and organized than just a petty criminal. Once Thesiger enters he is absolutely rivetting.
Teddington Studios had an interesting history - built in the 1910s, only one film had been released before Warners bought it in 1931 to turn out quota quickies finishing with "The Dark Tower" in 1943.
Very Recommended!!