Charles Bennett (7) (1899–1995)

While rarely mentioned in the same breath with The 39 Steps or The Lady Vanishes, this is my favorite film from Hitchcock's British film catalog. It has charm, a great story, lots of atmosphere, a fine romance, and best of all, the wonderful Nova Pilbeam. Based on the Josephine Tey novel, A Schilling For Candles, this story of an innocent man wrongly accused of murder and the young girl who aids his search for proof that he did not commit the crime is a ton of fun.

This is a top-notch British production from the period. There is fine photography from Bernard Knowles, and a nice score from Louis Levy to make this one of Hitchcock's most enjoyable outings. Nova Pilbeam was a lovely young British actress who had worked for the director in a smaller role three years earlier, in his first version of The Man Who Knew Too Much. She sparkles here as a strong and independent young heroine who comes to believe in someone, and risks everything to aid him.

Derrick De Marney also shines as a young writer named Robert who happens upon the body of famous cinema star, Christine Clay (Pamela Carme), washed up on the beach. He had a passing acquaintance with her since she had purchased one of his stories. He is seen running from the scene to get help, and when it is discovered she was strangled with a belt from a coat he had stolen from him at a place called Tom’s Hat, things don't look good for our hero.

It looks even worse that she left money to him in her will, and when his attorney appears to be a boob, Robert escapes in order to prove his innocence. He gets the reluctant help of the Chief Constaple's daughter, Erica Burgoyne (Nova Pilbeam). There is a romantic attraction between the two, and the independent young Erica decides she — and her little dog — must help him to avoid the gallows. But she gets in deeper and deeper, until it is a race against time to find the real killer.

When she comes to bring him food and drive him around to search for the man who stole the jacket which will prove his innocence, she and her little dog get in deeper and deeper. There finally comes a turning point when Erica throws caution to the wind and zealously helps Robert pursue the man with a twitch in his eye who murdered Christine Clay. It becomes apparent to both her father and the police that she is aiding him willingly and not under duress. Since they have already slipped up and aroused suspicions at a birthday party her aunt and uncle were thowing for her niece, they know they can not remain at large forever and it becomes a race with time to find the real killer.

Hitchcock creates a very nice atmosphere of an English coastal town in the 1930s and all his touches are in evidence even at this early juncture. This is one of the great Hitchcock films from his British period and stands with the best of them. Nova Pilbeam is fabulous here, and it is a real shame she did not get to make more films like this one. If you enjoyed The 39 Steps you will probably like this one as well. It does not quite have the tension of that great film but has a little more romance and charm. A real winner!… (meer)