The Interrupted Journey (1949)

Director:

Daniel Birt

Writer:

Michael Pertwee (writer)

Release Date:

3 April 1950 (Sweden)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

When John North, a budding author, pulls the communication cord of a late night train that is taking him away on a weekend with his publishers wife...

Plot Keywords:

Train

Cast

Valerie Hobson	...	Carol North
Richard Todd	...	John North
Christine Norden	...	Susan Wilding
Tom Walls	...	Mr. Clayton
Ralph Truman	...	Inspector Waterson
Vida Hope	...	Miss Marchment
Alexander Gauge	...	Jerves Wilding
Dora Bryan	...	Waitress
Arnold Ridley	...	Mr. Saunders
Cyril Smith	...	George - the publican

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:15

Company:

Valiant Films

Plotty thriller which cheats its main premise, but revels in 'Dutch angle' photography and bad hairstyles.

Richard Todd (wearing a vat of Brylcreem on his hair) agonises over whether he should run away with his peroxided mistress (Christine Nordern) or return to to his stolid missus (Valerie Hobson). He jumps out of a train, and thinks he's caused multiple deaths. Lots of angst ensues, especially when it looks like the loyal missus won't believe in his innocence. As a melodrama it's not too bad, despite the cheat in the plot, and Todd's hammy performance. For once, horsey Ms Hobson's frigidity is welcome. As the loyal old stick, she refrains from chewing the scenery. Her hair, however looks as ugly as her clothes. Ms Nordern also acquits herself well. She's hefty, predatory and suitably tarty (she also sports an appalling hairdo)..but she seems genuine...there's a scene in which she kisses Todd with what looks like genuine sexual hunger - something you don't often see in twee British thrillers like this. The best thing in the film is probably the arty camera-work.. there are some really interesting angles. There's a sequence in an old hotel where the camera and direction becomes almost Bergmanesque. Todd and Vida Hope (the hotelier) all moodily lit, suddenly launch into some very slow dialogue as though there's some deep meaning to their standard mystery story exchange. Early on Dora Bryan (always a joy) appears briefly as a waitress, who serves Todd and Nordern with some rock cakes - which are integral to the plot. Non-British viewers may be baffled by these delicacies; but I urge them to inquire no further.