Moss Rose Reviews

A tense turn-of-the-century mystery with several odd twists and turns, not the least of which is the casting of Vincent Price on the right side of the law, Victor Mature as what appears to be a deranged killer, and Ethel Barrymore, in a fine portrayal, as a mother bent on keeping her son. Everything about this film is visually correct. The mood of London is immediately evoked and remains, almost permeating the actors with fog, all through the picture. Cummins is a cockney singer-dancer whose roommate is killed by an unknown person. She is determined to get out of poverty by using her charm and looks to snare a rich man. Cummins thinks that Mature, who was dating her dead pal, may be the killer so she uses blackmail to wangle an invitation from Mature to his family residence, a huge estate in Devonshire. Once there, Cummins learns that Mature is engaged to Medina, but that poor girl is soon dispatched as well. Price, a Scotland Yard detective, is sent to cover the case and manages to save the young Cummins before she, too, is slain by--are you ready?--Barrymore. Yep, it's the old lady who is doing in the young ladies, as she will do anything to keep her boy at home. Why this was set in England is anybody's guess as there is not much of an attempt by the American players to maintain a British accent.