Puzzle Corner No. 14

A strange ending to Tod's film career, this is one of a series of shorts where an unseen commentator quiz's the audience on various tenuously related topics. Cheaply put together and utilising much stock footage it's hard to see where Tod fits into this until about half way through when the commentator segues from a question about a pub called The Slaughtered Calf into "another kind of Slaughter. Hold on to your seats as Puzzle Corner brings you Tod Slaughter!"

Then the film cuts to a billboard proclaiming "Tod Slaughter as Sweeney Todd"

We then get a short scene with Tod delivering a monologue in character as Sweeney. This is done in a single take with no other actors and features Sweeney reflecting on all the throats he's cut and his likely fate of his own throat. Tod addresses most of this to a large sack which he balances on his barber's chair. Whether this is meant to stand in for a character isn't clear and it gives the scene an eerie quality, especially since it's his farewell screen appearance.

At almost 70, Tod is heavier than before and sports a ludicrously full headed wig. Though his age shows, the familiar throaty chuckle is still there and he delivers his words with all his old fervour.

Unfortunately after a few moments the narrator resumes his quizzing so we don't hear all Tod says.

Then the film cuts to other subjects and we bid farewell to Tod.