The Inn on the River (1962)
"Das Gasthaus an der Themse" (original title)

A serial killer named The Shark is terrorizing London by killing his victims with a speargun and then, dressed in a scruba-diver's wetsuit, using the city's sewer tunnels to make his ... See full summary »

Director:

Alfred Vohrer

Writers:

Edgar Wallace (novel), Harald G. Petersson (screenplay),

Stars:

Joachim Fuchsberger, Brigitte Grothum, Elisabeth Flickenschildt

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joachim Fuchsberger	...	Insp. Wade
Brigitte Grothum	...	Leila Smith
Elisabeth Flickenschildt	...	Nelly Oaks
Klaus Kinski	...	Gregor Gubanow
Eddi Arent	...	Barnaby
Richard Münch	...	Dr. Collins
Jan Hendriks	...	Roger Lane
Heinz Engelmann	...	Mr. Broen
Siegfried Schürenberg	...	Sir John
Hela Gruel	...	Anna Smith
Hans Paetsch	...	Rechtsanwalt
Rudolf Fenner	...	Big Willy
Manfred Greve	...	Sgt. Frank
Gertrud Prey	...	Nurse (as Getrud Prey)

Storyline

A serial killer named The Shark is terrorizing London by killing his victims with a speargun and then, dressed in a scruba-diver's wetsuit, using the city's sewer tunnels to make his getaway. Inspector Wade of Scotland Yard is assigned to the case, and he begins to suspect that the Shark is tied in with a smuggling ring the authorities believe is run out of a dive on the Thames waterfront called The Mekka.

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Plot Keywords:

smuggling | murder | remake | harpoon | river | 

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Taglines:

So packend - so dramatisch - so spannend - das ist wieder Edgar Wallace Meisterklasse

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

28 September 1962 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

The Inn on the River

Filming Locations:

Hamburg, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rialto Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Klangfilm Eurocord-Magnetocord)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first film of Rialto's Edgar Wallace series to feature the famous voice before the opening credits: "Hallo, hier spricht Edgar Wallace" ("Hello, this is Edgar Wallace speaking). This film and the following one, Der Zinker, included a version of the voice spelling Wallace's name wrong. From Room 13 on, a new version (with correct spelling), recorded by director Alfred Vohrer himself, was used until the end of the series in 1972.

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Connections

Version of Nobody Home (1938)

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Soundtracks

"...besonders in der Nacht"
Performed by Elisabeth Flickenschildt

User Reviews

My first exposure to Krimis

This 1962 mystery is the first exposure I've had to the Edgar Wallace krimi adaptations. I enjoyed it quite a bit although the mystery was a bit too convoluted. There is even a "So and so did this because..." explanation towards the end but I still have a few questions. Anyway, the film is about a killer named The Shark who is killing people in London with a speargun. He is able to get away because he dresses in a scuba outfit and uses the city sewer lines to escape. Inspector Wade (Joachim Fuchsberger) of Scotland Yard is on the case.

The film has a lot going for it, especially in the Theremin themed bits involving The Shark. The image of the killer in an all black wetsuit is atmospherically shot and suitably creepy. Dick Maas was definitely impressed by it because he used it to similar effect in the 80s action thriller AMSTERDAMNED. Another plus is a young Klaus Kinski in a major supporting role as sleazy French businessman. On the downside, the film features some awkward comic relief in the form of the bumbling Barnaby character. And, as I mentioned earlier, it does get confusing for a bit. At one point three men in black scuba suits are running around. However, the end revelation of who The Shark is pretty unexpected and director Alfred Vohrer does his best to send you off the track.