The Body Vanished (1939)

Director:

Walter Tennyson

Writer:

Ian Walker

Stars:

Anthony Hulme, C. Denier Warren, Ernest Sefton

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anthony Hulme	...	Rodney Paine
C. Denier Warren	...	Pip Piper
Ernest Sefton	...	Sgt. Hopkins
Evelyn Foster	...	Miss Casson (as Eve Foster)
Frank Atkinson	...	Hobbleberry
Wilfred Noy	...	Snelling
Hamilton Keene	...	Captain Haller
Cyril Chamberlain	...	Auctioneer
Frederick Keen	...	Mr. Williams
Charles Paton	...	Mr. Briggs
Fred Withers	...	George Billings

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

sergeant

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Filming Locations:

Worton Hall Studios, Isleworth, Middlesex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Venture Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

46 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Incorrectly listed in the British Film Catalogue (1895-1970) as "The Body Vanishes".

User Reviews

Surprisingly effective British mystery

Despite a short run time this is a breezy, effective British mystery. A Scotland Yard Inspector (Anthony Hulme) is on holidays with his friend, a newspaper reporter. The two come into a small village for rest and refreshments before continuing their holiday. Their peace is disturbed when a villager runs into the local pub declaring the owner of a nearby mansion has been murdered.

The two quickly journey to the mansion and find that there is no corpse to suggest a murder. The local authority in charge of the investigation is not up to the task, prompting the Scotland Yard man to stick around. Hulme's first goal is to learn if a murder actually occurred. There are enough clues present to suggest this is so, so now the detective turns his attention to finding the corpse.

Step by step, Hulme first finds the corpse, then he unveils the motive for murder and ultimately the killer. All nicely done against a backdrop of eccentric rural characters.