Passenger to Tokyo (1954) User Reviews

Passenger to Tokyo

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 5 January 2021]

Scotland Yard travels the world. Japan, South Africa. Just about anywhere as long as library footage exists.

Edward Phillips arrives in Japan for business purposes. However there is a trunk bearing his name but he knows nothing about it. Inside the trunk is a dismembered body.

Is this a clever murder by Philips or was someone else responsible?

Superintendent Ross has been dispatched to Japan. He first needs to identify the dead woman, some recent surgery provides a clue. There is still a lot of legwork to do.

This is a taut thriller as the police follow whatever small leads they have. It ultimately takes them to South Africa where the victim was destined to visit.

The motive owes a little to a previous Scotland Yard story also made in the same year. The Blazing Caravan.

Above average entry showing that the arm of the law really is long.

[jamesraeburn2003 · 8/10 · 11 May 2023]

A prominent businessman called Edward Phillips is arrested at the Port of Tokyo when a trunk bearing his name contains the dismembered body of a woman. He swears that the trunk does not belong to him and after his staff confirm this he is released. Supt Ross (played by Kenneth Henry) of the Yard is assigned to the case and extensive enquiries are carried out as to where the trunk may have been purchased. It transpires that it was sold at a secondhand shop in Paddington to a handsome, well-spoken man of about thirty-five who wore gloves. This was unusual due to the hot weather. Meanwhile, the pathologist's examination of the body reveals that the murdered woman had once had unusual cardiac surgery done, which eventually leads Ross and his men to reveal her identity as a former teacher called Elsie Brooks. It seems she had come into a large inheritance and was believed to be on her way to Cape Town in South Africa to start a new life. Ross flies to Cape Town and with the help of the South African police apprehends a ruthless killer whose motive was motivated by pure greed...

Above average offering from the classic Scotland Yard series, which succeeds admirably in condensing a lot of plot into its 30-minute running time without losing logic or cohesion. Edgar Lustgarten's narration does not spoil the audience's enjoyment of it - quite the opposite - it helps it keep on top of all the twists and turns of the story. It does demonstrate that the arm of the law really is long, as the old saying goes, since the men from the Yard go from London to Japan and back again before jetting off to South Africa for the final showdown. Despite the limitations of 'B'-pic production it has a strong feeling for place: what are most likely Merton Park studio interiors are skillfully blended in with what is presumably library shots of the various overseas locations we visit as the mystery unfolds. The black and white camerawork adds to the semi-documentary feel of the production, the editing is sharp and the sound direction is once again by Ken Hughes.

Interesting Example of a British Quota Quickie

[l_rawjalaurence · 17 February 2018]

This is a good example of an ingenious combination of studio settings and stock footage to simulate a flight to Tokyo. The story focuses on mysterious cargo, but the real interest lies in how director Ken Hughes sustains interest through astute camera work as well as careful placement of actors in groups.