In this sequel to the previous year's BARBADOS QUEST Tom Conway and Michael Balfour return as P. I. Tom Martin and his sidekick Barney. This time, they're trying to return a handbag to Paddy Webster. She's disappeared leading them to a missing formula, various thugs and, most important, Honor Blackman.
In rough outline, it looks like the FALCON series that Conway had starred in a decade and a half earlier, after his brother, George Sanders, had handed the role over to him -- he was anxious to take on more interesting projects, and starring in the SAINT series was enough; he didn't need the knockoff. All of which leads to the producers, who would go on to TV's Saint, starring Roger Moore. It looks like their fondness for the earlier series led naturally to Conway.
Conway's characterization seems to be built on being suave, and having the producers on his side, which means he's always a step ahead of everyone, except for Honor Blackman. It's a thoroughly pleasant lightweight timewaster, which is mildly puzzling, since it's directed by Henry Cass. Cass had begun as a stage actor. By the middle 1930s, he was directing major pieces at the Old Vic, then moved to films in 1937. By 1950, he was directing great movies, but his career began to slide after a couple of years. It looks like another case of someone who couldn't handle the strain at the top and retreated to the easy comfort of the Bs.
In rough outline, it looks like the FALCON series that Conway had starred in a decade and a half earlier, after his brother, George Sanders, had handed the role over to him -- he was anxious to take on more interesting projects, and starring in the SAINT series was enough; he didn't need the knockoff. All of which leads to the producers, who would go on to TV's Saint, starring Roger Moore. It looks like their fondness for the earlier series led naturally to Conway.
Conway's characterization seems to be built on being suave, and having the producers on his side, which means he's always a step ahead of everyone, except for Honor Blackman. It's a thoroughly pleasant lightweight timewaster, which is mildly puzzling, since it's directed by Henry Cass. Cass had begun as a stage actor. By the middle 1930s, he was directing major pieces at the Old Vic, then moved to films in 1937. By 1950, he was directing great movies, but his career began to slide after a couple of years. It looks like another case of someone who couldn't handle the strain at the top and retreated to the easy comfort of the Bs.