BBC Radio's 20 Questions receives anonymous clues that connect to a series of murders. Reporters try and break the code before more deaths come to pass.BBC Radio's 20 Questions receives anonymous clues that connect to a series of murders. Reporters try and break the code before more deaths come to pass.BBC Radio's 20 Questions receives anonymous clues that connect to a series of murders. Reporters try and break the code before more deaths come to pass.
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Liam Redmond
- Echo News Editor
- (as Liam Redman)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaShot in three weeks.
- GoofsThe murder is able to successfully strangle his victims in a couple of seconds: the evidence suggests that in reality it takes longer than that.
- Quotes
Mohammed Ali: He was English, and to an Indian all are alike. They are big, their faces are red, and they smell of whisky.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits: All characters appearing in this film are entirely fictitious and are not intended to represent or portray any person whether living or dead, except the "Twenty Questions Team" who appear in person.
- ConnectionsReferences Hamlet (1948)
Featured review
Unworkable premise turns out surprisingly well
As a low budget British crime film mixing fact and fiction, THE 20 QUESTIONS MURDER MYSTERY works far better than the previous attempt I saw, THE BRASS MONKEY. This one takes the real-life participants of the radio quiz show '20 Questions' and incorporates them into a plot involving a vengeful murderer who gradually works his way through a group of old soldiers. His modus operandi is to send in clues and puzzles to the '20 Questions' team before committing each crime. It's a novel premise and one that works quite well thanks to the literate script. The director, Paul L. Stein, had a lengthy career that started out in German silent cinema before he fled to the UK in 1938 and became a film director over here. He died shortly after this production, leaving the film a fitting testament to his talents.
Fans of the genre will recognise various tropes here, from the intrepid reporter running rings around the police to the villain with his secret motive and the well-staged and atmospheric murders which feel like they're out of an Edgar Wallace novel. As the reporter hero, the Canadian born Robert Beatty had one of the longest careers in Hollywood history and does a fine job, and Rona Anderson is ahead of the times as the sharp female reporter. Once again, Wally Patch (SALUTE THE TOFF) steals every scene as the humorous cop assigned to bodyguard duty to protect the equally funny Jack Train, and Kynaston Reeves plays in support.
Fans of the genre will recognise various tropes here, from the intrepid reporter running rings around the police to the villain with his secret motive and the well-staged and atmospheric murders which feel like they're out of an Edgar Wallace novel. As the reporter hero, the Canadian born Robert Beatty had one of the longest careers in Hollywood history and does a fine job, and Rona Anderson is ahead of the times as the sharp female reporter. Once again, Wally Patch (SALUTE THE TOFF) steals every scene as the humorous cop assigned to bodyguard duty to protect the equally funny Jack Train, and Kynaston Reeves plays in support.
helpful•62
- Leofwine_draca
- Jun 15, 2016
Details
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was The 20 Questions Murder Mystery (1950) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer