planktonrules Review of The Echo Murders

The Echo Murders (1945)

A bit dull and hard to believe--but watchable.

[5/10 · 11 May 2011]

I have never seen any of the Sexton Blake films. Although quite a few were made according to IMDb, they almost never are seen here in the States--so I really cannot compare it to the rest. However, based solely on this one film, it was unremarkable--and a bit dated even when it debuted in 1945. After all, the war was all but won--and this film is about a Nazi invasion of the UK. This would have been VERY timely for 1940 (when this seemed likely) but by the time the film came out, this wasn't a fear any rational person would have had. In addition, the whole idea of Nazis infiltrating and going after a mine seemed very, very far-fetched. However, the acting was solid, the plot engaging (if you turned off your brain) and the characters reasonably compelling (especially if you ignore the seemingly deliberate parallels to Sherlock Holmes)--so it does make for a nice time-passer. Not a bad film but far from inspired.