Night Boat to Dublin

This film caught my attention solely on the basis of the title. An rather implausible wartime yarn of how British Military Intelligence attempt to track down a kidnapped Swedish scientist who may be on the verge of a major breakthrough in nuclear technology. The story moves along at pace on the basis of hunch and coincidence, but that said moves along in an enjoyable way. Robert Newton is fine as the lead, but the real star for me at least is Guy Middleton who provides amusing quips throughout. Edited by Flora Newton one of a number of women editors working in the British Film Industry at this time.

This is a typical Edgar Wallace style 50 minute B movie, minus the decent storyline, believable characters and any tension or excitement, and extended to 90 dreary minutes.

Even the great Newton couldn't supply any gravity to this lightweight nonsense.

Robert Newton plays an MI5 man who infiltrates a gang of Nazi agents involved in the capture of a Swedish scientist whose work on developing the Atom bomb is being smuggled out via neutral Ireland. The eponymous night boat plays an important part in the early part of the story though most of the film takes place in England.

Not a film of any great depth, its intricate plot and considerable amount of dialogue is directed with speed and skill by Lawrence Huntington, adroitly steering around several implausibilities in the plot. There are likable performances from Robert Newton, and the admirable Raymond Lovell, who seemed to appear in every other 1940s British film, gives a typically urbane performance as the chief villain; John Ruddock is creepily sinister as his secretary. Newton is assisted by the jaunty Guy Middleton, and the pair get away with several double entendres.

With superb black and white photography by Otto Heller, it's a ripping yarn from a bygone age of trilby hats, clipped accents, and British pluck.

During the last days of WWII, a Danish scientist is suspected to be working with the Nazis even if he is known for his anti-Hitler stance. Two intelligence officers discover a track leading to a relevant information leaki n Ireland and embark on the faithful night boat to Dublin. Only one is going to return with a plan to capture the spies... and he will even get married to keep his cover.

The plot, characters, and acting are engaging enough to keep you watching until dénouement.

The flimsy plot of this wartime intelligence story relies on endless coincidences, hunches and lucky breaks. The determinedly amateur British intelligence operation is seriously lacking in direction and professional discipline, but who cares when the script writer is on your side? Such dull viewing could give spies a bad reputation.