In advance of TP's Halloween screening I revisited this old favourite. Still amusing and creepy in equal parts (or perhaps 65% - 35% would be nearer the mark). Of course, knowing the plot, the true identies of key protagonists and the final outcome takes away some of the enjoyment to be had from a first time viewing, but it's still a solid seventy eight minute entertainment. Askey's non-stop banter and silly antics are a turn off for some, but he's supposed to be a tiresome pain in the arse in the context of the story. Kathleen Harrison is priceless as the 'maiden lady' and Linden Travers is splendid as the haunted/nutty damsel in distress. Even Stuart Latham as the gormless, soon-to-be-wed Herbert hits the spot as a kind of proto Ron Glum and Richard 'Stinker' Murdoch shows why he was a mainstay of understated British comedy for so many years. The set design is nicely atmospheric and despite being based on a theatre play (penned by Arnold 'Private Godfrey' Ridley, who didn't make much money from his play's popularity) the direction is never static and director Walter Forde even squeezes a modicum of suspense from a couple of scenes. Incidentally, Forde and several of the cast were also involved in the trilogy of popular Inspector Hornleigh films in the early war years.
And as I noted elsewhere, this film possibly includes the first filmed example of the interjection 'gertcha!'