Strange Boarders (1938)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Herbert Mason

Writers:

Sidney Gilliat (writer)
E. Phillips Oppenheim (novel)

Release Date:

1 August 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery

Plot:

Pre-war intelligence man Tommy Blythe interrupts his honeymoon to investigate the discovery of vital...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Tom Walls	...	Tommy Blythe
Renée Saint-Cyr	...	Louise Blythe
Googie Withers	...	Elsie
Ronald Adam	...	Barstow
C.V. France	...	Col. Lionel Anstruther
Nina Boucicault	...	Mrs. Anstruther
Leon M. Lion	...	Luke
C. Denier Warren	...	Fry
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Dewar
Marda Vanne	...	Mrs. Greatorex
Arthur Goullet	...	Senor Torres
George Curzon	...	Sir Charles
Bryan Powley	...	George Gateshead
Tyrell Davis	...	Hayes (as Tyrrell Davis)
Martita Hunt	...	Miss Pitter

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Gainsborough Pictures

My brief review of the film

An archetypal mystery film with elements of comedy and thriller, there are enough amusing parts, interesting performances and well paced sections that it is overall okay viewing, and it certainly improves towards the end. The beginning and the middle sections of the film contain events that are predictable and lame comedy bits, but the conclusion and the events leading to it have an intriguing nature. It is not an extraordinary film, rather ordinary in most aspects, other than some excellent sound recording. The mystery plot is not too fascinating at all, but the film ends on a good note though, so it is quite possible that the film will leave one satisfied, even if not much more than that.