Even though director Albert Parker was born in Brooklyn, he made so many
trips to Britain most people thought of him as an eccentric Englishman. "The
Riverside Murder" was a film he directed over there while connected with
Fox London studios. Basil Sydney, a 1920's matinee idol, plays a Scotland
Yard detective called out to one of those country house murders, this time
the victim is Robert Norman, shot while giving Polly a cracker - but there is
more to it than meets the eye!! Norman has formed a pact with a few friends.
Years ago he steered them wrong financially but wanting to do the right
thing has organized for them all to receive shares of his will - but the pact
is due to expire at midnight!!
When one of the members, Jerome, arrives, he is a jittery bundle of nerves. He claims he was shot and now feels there is someone at large who wants to wipe all of them out!! I really liked this movie, Sydney was terrific as the urbane detective who was even given a romantic interest in bubbly reporter Judy Gunn (unfortunately she only made 12 movies and retired for marriage in 1937), her part is not intrusive enough to make her annoying!!
In fact Jerome is just about to reveal who he thinks it is when he is killed, then Gregg, another of the pact members, appears. Furtive as well, he too is killed. Suddenly the bright eyed reporter unearths the fact that Norman's son, thought to have died, is still very much alive and back in Britain...... the plot thickens......
Probably best known as Alistair Sim's debut but others are also noteworthy. Tom Helmore makes his presence felt as the hysterical Jerome (and sporting an odd tattoo that isn't even commented on!!). Character actor Ian Fleming as one of the pact members (he looks a lot like John Halliday)!!
Recommended.
When one of the members, Jerome, arrives, he is a jittery bundle of nerves. He claims he was shot and now feels there is someone at large who wants to wipe all of them out!! I really liked this movie, Sydney was terrific as the urbane detective who was even given a romantic interest in bubbly reporter Judy Gunn (unfortunately she only made 12 movies and retired for marriage in 1937), her part is not intrusive enough to make her annoying!!
In fact Jerome is just about to reveal who he thinks it is when he is killed, then Gregg, another of the pact members, appears. Furtive as well, he too is killed. Suddenly the bright eyed reporter unearths the fact that Norman's son, thought to have died, is still very much alive and back in Britain...... the plot thickens......
Probably best known as Alistair Sim's debut but others are also noteworthy. Tom Helmore makes his presence felt as the hysterical Jerome (and sporting an odd tattoo that isn't even commented on!!). Character actor Ian Fleming as one of the pact members (he looks a lot like John Halliday)!!
Recommended.