This is excellent, a more than interesting quota-quickie - swift and to the point and with all the usual financial shortcomings but with a smart storyline, directed by George Pearson. A low budget doesn't always mean low entertainment, I think Primer from 2004 on its USD 7,000 budget proved that for modern generations; just open your mind.
Rich and famous explorer is temporarily immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds and whilst there has a bet with his crusty friends he can spend a night alone in the Chamber Of Horrors and survive sane. Meanwhile his niece is planning on getting engaged or married to a chap who seems to have no visible means of support and his best friend is acting rather strange too
This can all be obvious and extremely corny of course but also surprisingly intelligent too – you are forced to pay attention if you don't want to waste your time completely. It's a simple but often fascinating tale which logically unfolds to its er somewhat bizarre conclusion. The acting by all is on the staid and stodgy side but competent and believable. Young William (Billy) Hartnell was in here as some kind of wisecracking newspaper man, 27 years before he introduced Doctor Who to the world, and young Bernard (Lord) Miles played a borderline psychotic wax modeller decades before he made it to the top of the acting profession. Charles Oliver had a meaty role here but to me will forever be the Squire from Ask A Policeman. The contrived dinner scene where Nick petulantly turns his back on Carol is too daft to laugh at - she should have thrown something at the back of his head. The scenes in the "museum" were atmospherically filmed and the travelling scenes of the streets of London were interesting, none more so than the clear reflection of two of the camera crew in the car windscreen they were filming.
So plenty of good - and not so good - things in here to recommend especially if like me you like stodgy British inter-war crime movies; if you don't like them and have decided to watch this example my usual observation applies and that you will simply have to kiss the 66 minutes running time goodbye forever!
