Eve is in love with Jonathan. When he tells her that the famous actress Charlotte Inwood has killed her husband and he has covered up the crime, Eve helps him hide and poses as Charlotte's dresser to try and prove his innocence. Things get complicated however when Eve falls for the detective investigating, and Jonathan's story starts to unravel
Between his workman forties period and his fifties American masterpieces, Hitch briefly returned to Britain to make two good-but-not-great flicks, Under Capricorn and this film. Written by Whitfield Cook and Alma Reville, based on a book by Selwyn Jepson, it's a slightly over-involved tale with a large weak spot; Eve is hopelessly enough in love with Jonathan to be an accomplice to murder, but then suddenly drops him halfway through the plot in favour of Inspector Smith after knowing him for about ten minutes. However, it more than makes up for this with plenty of funny/sinister supporting characters, a great MacGuffin in the form of a bloody dress and a creepily psychotic twist in the tail. Most of all though what appeals about the film is the extremely strange cast; American Wyman somehow keeps a straight face, Sim and Thorndike are both hilarious as her loony-toon parents, Wilding and Todd are typical saps, and Walsh - one of the best British actresses of her day (This Happy Breed, Oliver Twist) - is fabulous as the chiselling Nellie Goode. Add to this strange brew the still fabulously smoking Dietrich doing her classic Lili Von Shtupp conniving femme fatale act and you have a truly unique mix. Even the bit parts are full of up-and-coming great players, notably iconic revue artist Grenfell as the lady running the duck-shooting sideshow. If one criticism can be levelled at the film, it's that the tone is a little uneven. The scenes with Todd are taut and gripping whilst the ones with Sim are quaint and ridiculous; Hitchcock often brings off this horror/humour combo well, but it drifts a little here. Nonetheless it's quality entertainment throughout, and if nothing else, watch this to see Dietrich singing I'm The Laziest Gal In Town, the closest thing to a musical number as Sir Alfred ever got in his illustrious career.
Between his workman forties period and his fifties American masterpieces, Hitch briefly returned to Britain to make two good-but-not-great flicks, Under Capricorn and this film. Written by Whitfield Cook and Alma Reville, based on a book by Selwyn Jepson, it's a slightly over-involved tale with a large weak spot; Eve is hopelessly enough in love with Jonathan to be an accomplice to murder, but then suddenly drops him halfway through the plot in favour of Inspector Smith after knowing him for about ten minutes. However, it more than makes up for this with plenty of funny/sinister supporting characters, a great MacGuffin in the form of a bloody dress and a creepily psychotic twist in the tail. Most of all though what appeals about the film is the extremely strange cast; American Wyman somehow keeps a straight face, Sim and Thorndike are both hilarious as her loony-toon parents, Wilding and Todd are typical saps, and Walsh - one of the best British actresses of her day (This Happy Breed, Oliver Twist) - is fabulous as the chiselling Nellie Goode. Add to this strange brew the still fabulously smoking Dietrich doing her classic Lili Von Shtupp conniving femme fatale act and you have a truly unique mix. Even the bit parts are full of up-and-coming great players, notably iconic revue artist Grenfell as the lady running the duck-shooting sideshow. If one criticism can be levelled at the film, it's that the tone is a little uneven. The scenes with Todd are taut and gripping whilst the ones with Sim are quaint and ridiculous; Hitchcock often brings off this horror/humour combo well, but it drifts a little here. Nonetheless it's quality entertainment throughout, and if nothing else, watch this to see Dietrich singing I'm The Laziest Gal In Town, the closest thing to a musical number as Sir Alfred ever got in his illustrious career.