Blake of Scotland Yard (1937)

Sir James Blake has retired from Scotland Yard so that he can assist his niece Hope and her friend Jerry in developing an apparatus they have invented. Sir James thinks that their invention... See full summary »

Director:

Robert F. Hill (as Bob Hill)

Writers:

Robert F. Hill (original story) (as Rock Hawley), Basil Dickey (screenplay)

Stars:

Ralph Byrd, Herbert Rawlinson, Joan Barclay

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ralph Byrd	...	Jerry Sheehan (archive footage)
Herbert Rawlinson	...	Sir James Blake (archive footage)
Joan Barclay	...	Hope Mason (archive footage)
Lloyd Hughes	...	Doctor Marshall (archive footage)
Dickie Jones	...	Bobby Mason (archive footage)
Lucille Lund	...	The Duchess (archive footage)
Nick Stuart	...	Julot, Male Apache Dancer (archive footage)
Sam Flint	...	Chief Inspector Henderson (archive footage)
Gail Newbury	...	Mimi (archive footage)
Jimmy Aubrey	...	Baron Polinka (archive footage)
Theodore Lorch	...	Daggett (archive footage) (as Ted Lorch)
George DeNormand	...	Gang Member posing as Newshawker (archive footage) (as George de Normand)
Bob Terry	...	Peyton (archive footage)
William Farrel	...	Count Basil Zagaloff (archive footage)
Frank Wayne	...	Charles (archive footage)

Storyline

Sir James Blake has retired from Scotland Yard so that he can assist his niece Hope and her friend Jerry in developing an apparatus they have invented. Sir James thinks that their invention has the potential to prevent wars, and plans to donate it to the League of Nations. But a gang of criminals led by the elusive "Scorpion" steals the device, and Blake and his associates must recover the invention and determine the identity of the "Scorpion".

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Plot Keywords:

scotland yard | league of nations | secret passage | rowboat | pig latin | 

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Genres:

Crime | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 January 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

La sombra del escorpión

Company Credits

Production Co:

Victory Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The earliest documented telecasts of the feature length version of this film took place in Los Angeles Saturday 13 August 1949 on KTSL (Channel 2) and in New York City Wednesday 3 May 1950 on the Night Owl Theatre on WPIX (Channel 11).

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Connections

Edited from Blake of Scotland Yard (1937)

User Reviews

Plenty of Action, But Frequently Confusing

There's plenty of action in "Blake of Scotland Yard", but it is frequently confusing and chaotic. It was apparently edited into a feature film from a serial of some 10-15 episodes, which would account for the sometimes bewildering rush of events. No doubt the full-length serial would provide more explanation, while also retaining the exciting action scenes.

Sir James Blake's niece Hope and her friend Jerry are inventors who have come up with a device that they think will eliminate the threat of war. As they demonstrate it, a gang of criminals led by "the Scorpion" spies on them, and makes plans to steal the invention. When they do pilfer it, Blake and his associates must recapture the machine and also determine the identity of the elusive "Scorpion".

There is a confusingly long list of characters, and they spend all of their time fighting, spying on each other, impersonating one another, and sneaking around through the secret corridors that seem to be a feature of every building they enter. They keep you in constant suspense as to what is going to happen next, and in constant confusion as to what has just happened. The claims made for the gizmo that is at the center of all this fuss also seem rather implausible.

This movie could have been a lot better in a somewhat longer version that would make all of the action easier to follow.