The noted theatre director,Basil Dean,helped form Associated Talking Pictures and built new sound stages at Ealing Studios.He signed a distribution contract with Radio Pictures ,the British subsidiary of RKO,with the hope of producing prestige British films.The cast for this film easily convinces one of that fact.However what RKO had in mind is that this would be a way of complying with their quota requirements,so the films from Ealing could go out on the bottom half of a double bill with one of their Hollywood films.So it was not a surprise that a parting of the ways came a couple of years later for RKO and 5 years later for Dean after a string of disastrous flops,mainly starring his wife. This film is more interesting for the cast than for the content.As has been pointed out in another review Mabel Poulton coming to the end of her screen career halted by her voice.Other actors such as Nigel Bruce,Ian Hunter and Madelaine Carroll on their way up. Du Maurier is excellent,even if a bit unlikely as the convict.Whilst the film creaks with age nevertheless it is very watchable.
Review of Escape!
