The Night of the Party (1934)
1h 3m | PG-13
A major newspaper publisher dies in suspicious circumstances during a parlour game at a dinner party. The publishers secretary is the obvious suspect, but the inspector isn't so sure ...
Director: Michael Powell
Studio: Gaumont-British Picture Corporation
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Video: 720p
Cast
Leslie Banks
as Sir John Holland
Malcolm Keen
as Lord Studholme
Jane Baxter
as Peggy Studholme Kennion
Ian Hunter
as Guy Kennion
Viola Keats
as Joan Holland
Ernest Thesiger
as Adrian Chiddiatt
Reviews
Michael Powell and Roland Pertwee pack quite a lot into this quirky and short whodunit. A wealthy publisher dies in curious circumstances, and it falls to "Insp. Ramage" (John Turnbull) to try to get to the bottom of this parlour game mishap - and suffice to say, he has no shortage of suspects. After a seemingly never-ending series of convoluted intricacies, it culminates in a court-room drama at which point it, after maybe 45 minutes, is enlivened hugely by a sagely effort from Louis Goodrich (the judge) and a scene stealing, ultra-hammy, closing performance from the always reliable Ernest Thesiger. It can't have had much of a budget, nor much filming time but with Ian Hunter and Leslie Banks helping this tale of murder, duplicity and infidelity along, it is worth a watch.