Le meurtrier s'est échappé

Lots of superior, busy, jobbing actors and an excellent screenplay elevate an otherwise silly, farfetched yarn which has been told a thousand times before.

Chap goes on the run to clear his name and initially unenthusiastic girl gets roped in to help and everything works out in the end.

The chemistry between the leads is fun to watch and there are some laugh out loud moments even after eighty years. My favourite is the scene in the shrinks office, when the doctor has a fit when the shrink lights a match! There are other delicious comedic moments, too.

Despite the silliness, it's not a screwball comedy. Despite some deaths, it's not really a mystery thriller, either. It has a light touch of espionage, though.

Well worth a watch.

At this moment it's on YouTube under the heading 'Fly By Night (1942)'.