Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard (1940) User Reviews

Preposterous but engaging

[malcolmgsw · 6/10 · 29 January 2016]

By the time this film was made so many crime and mystery films had been made that it would appear that producers were seeking even more complex and unusual plots and methods of murder to stump the cinema going public.In this case it is murder by vacuum cleaner.It is therefore rather difficult to take this film seriously.In fact Mary Clare as the female detective seems to go through this film with a smile on her face as if she is constantly wondering with amusement that she is actually getting paid to make this tosh..She is supported by a youngish Irene Handel and an impossibly young looking Nigel Patrick.This film may be rubbish but it is nevertheless extremely entertaining rubbish which does not outsmart its welcome.

Crackpot murder mystery with creepy elements and astonishing sexism

[davidvmcgillivray-24-905811 · 5/10 · 22 December 2015]

Nigel Morland wrote more than 20 novels featuring Mrs Pym, but this is the only time the female detective appeared on screen. The relationship between her and her minion, Det.-Insp. Shott, may have influenced Margaret Rutherford when she insisted that her husband, Stringer Davis, join her in the Miss Marple films. Mrs Pym and Shott investigate the cases of two women who have died shortly after making bequests to a spiritualist group. The scenes shot at their meetings are unusually creepy for a British film of this period. Considering Morland was an experienced writer of detective fiction, the plot here is barmy. Mrs Pym uncovers clues that in reality would be impossible to detect and eventually deduces murder by vacuum cleaner, surely unique in literary and film history. But considering this was a quota quickie shot by an independent at the tiny Highbury Studios in North London (the single location is the street outside), the production values, performances and pace aren't bad. Incredible by today's standards is the attitude to women. The all-male police force believe that the department will collapse because a woman has been co-opted; and even Mrs Pym admits that the reason she's been assigned to the case is that only a woman could appear "goofy" enough to infiltrate a spiritualist society. Nevertheless there's an unusually prominent disclaimer in the main titles (see Crazy Credits) and it's possible that it was an afterthought because of the revival of interest in spiritualism during the War.

The New Broom

[richardchatten · 5/10 · 29 November 2019]

As a film this is only so-so, although it does contain some extremely atmospheric compositions by "lighting expert" (as the credits call him) Brian Langley. But in addition to early glimpses of Nigel Patrick (in his film debut) & Irene Handl it provides a meaty role for Mary Clare in the title role, probably inspired by RKO's Hildegarde Withers.

I don't recall a Mr Pym (just as I don't think the film tells us that her first name is 'Palmyra'). But Mrs Pym is refreshingly an actual Scotland Yard detective for once - albeit an extremely eccentric one constantly patronised by her colleagues - rather than yet another amateur sleuth; while Edward Lexy's Det-Inspector Shott, although always several steps behind Mrs Pym, is not the dunce James Gleason always was as the cop in the Hildegarde Withers films.

Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard review

[JoeytheBrit · 5/10 · 16 May 2020]

The sole entry of a planned series of films featuring Mary Clare as a (gasp!) female police officer is riddled with the kind of sexist nonsense to be expected from a film from the 1940s. Clare does well as the peppy detective, and the film may possibly boast cinema's only killer whose weapon of choice is a vacuum cleaner. Screen debut of leading man Nigel Patrick.

Ludicrous but great fun.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 27 September 2016]

Now this film is far from perfect, but for some reason I found myself totally engaged in it, and really enjoyed it. The whole premise is ridiculous beyond belief, and the attitudes shown in this film will amuse some and horrify others, a 'woman' in Scotland Yard may have been an oddity back in 1940, but it helps serve as a reminder that luckily times have changed.

Death by vacuum cleaner is one of the most ludicrous things anyone could possibly have dreamed up, ludicrous, but entertaining. Mary Clare is utterly delightful in the role of Mrs Pym, the characters are big and well drawn, particularly Miss Bell, who is beautifully played by the wonderful Irene Handl.

The courtroom scene featuring the maid giving evidence is comedy gold, ridiculously funny, and there are chuckles throughout the remainder of the film.

Don't take it too seriously and you'll love every minute.

7/10.

Miss Clare Is Excellent

[boblipton · 5/10 · 18 February 2023]

Nigel Morland's eccentric heroine of more than twenty novels is hired by Scotland Yard. Her first case is the investigation of a murder linked to a psychic society.

The role is essayed by Mary Clare, doyenne of the stage, who usually wound up playing villaineszes on the screen. She plays her as abrupt, self-assured, and bumptious. It's an attractive performance. I suspect her seconding to the Yard is part of the the British reticence to having murder mysteries solved by amateurs. In the US industry, anyone could solve a murder, and many a fast-talking reporter did so. In Britain, some connection with officialdom was de rigeur; even Lord Wimsey had a brother-in-law on the Force. Amateurs were often seen interfering with the smooth operations of the omniscient peelers.

Aside from Miss Clare, it's a rather dull affair. Originally it was planned as the first of a series. No further movies eventuated.

Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard

[Prismark10 · 4/10 · 9 May 2021]

This quota quickie has a Thin Man mixed with Miss Marple vibe.

It is a silly film as Mrs Pym investigates the murders of two people who are members of a psychic society.

Her Scotland Yard colleagues are sceptical of her abilities and they might have good reasons.

At one point Mrs Pym considers death by vacuum cleaner. No a theory that is easy to hoover up.

It is flimsy and preposterous but also easy going. A sign of the times with early appearances from Irene Handl amd Nigel Patrick.

Plenty of humour but the mystery's rather ho-hum

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 10 May 2016]

Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard is a late 1930s murder mystery featuring Mary Clare who gives a warm performance as the titular Miss Marple-style detective who investigates mysterious deaths linked by the members of a psychic club. While it's interesting to see the era's craze for spiritualism make an appearance, this detective story is rather ordinary, although there's lots of humour to keep it moving along.

A lot of the film's goodwill comes from the comic pairing of Mrs. Pym with her associate, played by the delightful Edward Lexy who steals all his scenes as the long-suffering detective inspector. The mystery stuff itself is overshadowed by the endless humour, although death by vacuum cleaner is a novel concept, I suppose, if not entirely believable. A young Nigel Patrick and Irene Handl show up in support.

Pyms Number Minus One

[writers_reign · 4/10 · 29 January 2017]

If nothing else this quota quickie certainly has curio value; shot by a deservedly obscure director - this was only his third film and also his last - it top-billed Mary Clare in her only leading role and was one of the few times she played sympathetic and even that didn't quite come off because unfortunately Ms Clare just LOOKS sinister and is clearly unable to appear pleasant. Most viewers associate Irene Handl with the 1950s when she appeared as support in a string of comedies so it is surprising to find her in a substantial role as early as 1940 and even then this was by no means her film debut. The story, on which five people are credited, makes no attempt at realism as witness the solution to the search for a murder weapon - a vacuum cleaner - which Mrs. Pym deduces in the second reel. As I said it has curio interest only.