The Echo Murders (1945)

User Rating:

4.1/10   

Director:

John Harlow

Writer:

John Harlow (writer)

Release Date:

17 December 1945 (UK)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

The police are investigating the suspicious death of a mine owner when they stumble upon a strange Nazi plot to invade England.

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | WWII | Sexton Blake

Cast

David Farrar	...	Sexton Blake
Dennis Price	...	Dick Warren
Pamela Stirling	...	Stella Duncan
Julien Mitchell	...	James Duncan
Cyril Smith	...	P.C. Smith
Dennis Arundell	...	Rainsford
Ferdy Mayne	...	Dacier
Johnnie Schofield	...	Purvis
Paul Croft	...	Marat
Kynaston Reeves	...	Beales
Desmond Roberts	...	Cotter
Danny Green	...	Carl
Patric Curwen	...	Dr. Grey
Tony Arpino	...	Fox
Vincent Holman	...	Col. Wills

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | UK:A

Company:

British National Films

Movie Connections:

Follows Meet Sexton Blake (1945)

Sexton Blake to the rescue in an exciting war time thriller

It begins with complex web of events: Two thugs are waiting to meet up with a third in a seaside hotel. They find their friend dead on the beach and promptly rob him of all his goods. An "accident" at a mine is blamed on the manager who is dismissed. The mine owner, who is being blackmailed and is in fear for his life, sends a message to super sleuth Sexton Blake to come and investigate. A mysterious voice gives instructions to a henchmen from a hiding place deep in a sea cave...

From there is spins out into a mostly exciting tale of intrigue and espionage. This plays out like a Hollywood programmer but on steroids, with big destructive fights, twists that are twists and a go for it attitude that can't be beat.

I've never really run across Sexton Blake before. I know that he was/is a fictional creation to rival Sherlock Holmes in England. He appeared here in the US in a movie serial and that he was the hero in several films from England including one with Tod Slaughter as the villain. He was a character that never really crossed the Atlantic so we movie/mystery fans have little knowledge of his super exploits.

Based on this film its a shame that we haven't gotten more of his stories. This is a slam bang adventure that keeps you glued to the screen as enemies become friend, friends become enemies and the only person you can be certain of in the entire film is Sexton Blake who has all of the murder and mayhem swim around him.

This is a really good film that for the most part I can't recommend enough. The problem is that the comings and goings are much too complicated for a slam bang 75 minute movie. There is simply too much going on and as the film hits the final fifteen or twenty minutes you begin to feel that something was left out. There is simply too much crammed into those final minutes and details end up shooting all over the floor never to be recovered. (Please forgive my lack of detail in this regard, I can't explain it with out giving too much away, which I don't want to do, since you really should see this film) If you come across this small gem from England take the time and watch it, you'll be glad you did.