George (Ray Milland) is never allowed time off work to spend with his family. Janoth (Charles Laughton) is his heartless boss who has a mistress Pauline (Rita Johnson) whom he accidentally murders. He then tries to cover his tracks and pin the murder on another man who Rita was seen with the night that she dies. The problem is that the man in question is George - and he is put in charge of the investigation.
It's an OK lightweight thriller that is peppered with humour. The cast are all good but it is not fast-moving enough. In fact, it is extremely slow to get going. There isn't enough of a story for the first 45 minutes or so. There are daft moments - eg, George initially meets with Rita as she has information to give him regarding Janoth. We never hear what the important news is that she has for him and are expected to believe that they go on a drinking binge together without mentioning the original point of the meeting - on the evening that George has arranged to go away with his wife and son. What a load of cobblers!
Charles Laughton gives a good performance as an eccentric, arrogant boss and Ray Milland is always likable, although slightly irritating in drunk scenes. Elsa Lanchester is funny as "Patterson" a slightly dotty artist. She provides a good moment in the film when her portrait of the killer is revealed........
It's an OK lightweight thriller that is peppered with humour. The cast are all good but it is not fast-moving enough. In fact, it is extremely slow to get going. There isn't enough of a story for the first 45 minutes or so. There are daft moments - eg, George initially meets with Rita as she has information to give him regarding Janoth. We never hear what the important news is that she has for him and are expected to believe that they go on a drinking binge together without mentioning the original point of the meeting - on the evening that George has arranged to go away with his wife and son. What a load of cobblers!
Charles Laughton gives a good performance as an eccentric, arrogant boss and Ray Milland is always likable, although slightly irritating in drunk scenes. Elsa Lanchester is funny as "Patterson" a slightly dotty artist. She provides a good moment in the film when her portrait of the killer is revealed........