Oskar Homolka give some performance that reminds me of Charles Laughton in this British melodrama about a shopkeeper involved in illegal activities who is blackmailed by his clerk (Kenneth Griffith) who goes too far and doesn't live to regret it. Homolka is a proud man, especially of the musician daughter, Muriel Pavlov, unaware of her father's secrets, and in love with Derek Farr who become suspicious of his friend. Griffith is deliciously slimy, trying to rip off his boss and a little old lady in the opening scene at the hawk shop Homolka runs. He's lucky he isn't fired and arrested there, and his actions over a good majority of the film sets up where it's easy to root for Homolka.
Of course, crime doesn't pay in the movies, and Homolka must pay for the various crooked activities he's involved in. A fantastic ensemble all around makes film version of this stage play move at a very fast pace, with Homolka and Griffith standing out. There's some great moments of music, and even though he is up to no good, Homolka is a character I couldn't help but like while Griffith was fun to hate. This really picks up at the end and it becomes more intense as each second goes by. Pavlov is a glorious heroine. Unfortunately, I felt that the film ended rather abruptly and didn't come up with the conclusion that it needed to resolve everything obviously.
Of course, crime doesn't pay in the movies, and Homolka must pay for the various crooked activities he's involved in. A fantastic ensemble all around makes film version of this stage play move at a very fast pace, with Homolka and Griffith standing out. There's some great moments of music, and even though he is up to no good, Homolka is a character I couldn't help but like while Griffith was fun to hate. This really picks up at the end and it becomes more intense as each second goes by. Pavlov is a glorious heroine. Unfortunately, I felt that the film ended rather abruptly and didn't come up with the conclusion that it needed to resolve everything obviously.