Or so the trailer for Terror By Night went, also "A thrill a mile at 90 miles an hour". This means with a meagre "running" time of 57 minutes I should have had 85.5 thrills, and does this astounding feat of mathematic calculation make me Colonel Sebastian Moran?!
I've always enjoyed this penultimate Rathbone Holmes film, although my daughter (Chunky Chops) has always been rather bored by it and only ever watches it again because we've usually seen the previous twelve outings in quick succession. Rathbone was certainly getting fed up with the role by now and it showed. However, it's a pleasant whodunnit, with many scenes and accents to either admire or hoot at. Universal couldn't have had a large bill for the sets, as nearly all the action is on board a train - the London to Scotland where a murder has been committed to gain possession of a privately owned huge diamond.
Apart from its shortness the only other thing to slightly let TBN down for me is the climactic fight - where fantasy becomes the far-fetched involving the ultimate non-sequiteur I believe! A nice little film for the discerning viewer who paradoxically doesn't want to think too much but simply revel in the atmosphere and the 85.5 thrills of the chase!
I've always enjoyed this penultimate Rathbone Holmes film, although my daughter (Chunky Chops) has always been rather bored by it and only ever watches it again because we've usually seen the previous twelve outings in quick succession. Rathbone was certainly getting fed up with the role by now and it showed. However, it's a pleasant whodunnit, with many scenes and accents to either admire or hoot at. Universal couldn't have had a large bill for the sets, as nearly all the action is on board a train - the London to Scotland where a murder has been committed to gain possession of a privately owned huge diamond.
Apart from its shortness the only other thing to slightly let TBN down for me is the climactic fight - where fantasy becomes the far-fetched involving the ultimate non-sequiteur I believe! A nice little film for the discerning viewer who paradoxically doesn't want to think too much but simply revel in the atmosphere and the 85.5 thrills of the chase!