Das Ende einer Reise

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.

This movie is a pretty good surprise : the story with multiple twists and constant psychological details is really gripping, cinematography is impressive in the important sequences, and casting serves intelligently the story especially Valerie Hobson (so distinguished) and Richard Todd who form a handsome couple. Better than Hitchcock?

The Interrupted Journey is directed by Daniel Birt and written by Michael Pertwee. It stars Richard Todd, Valerie Hobson, Tom Walls and Ralph Truman. Music is by Stanley Black and cinematography by Erwin Hillier.

To Stop Train In Case Of Emergency Pull Down The Chain. Penalty For Improper Use £5.

That's a woman in a million.

Very tidy Brit noir this one. The story is a bit hokey as it enters Twilight Zone territories, but the twists, turns and mystery quotient keep it lively to hold the attention. The low budget is never a problem for Birt, who aided by the excellent Hillier, brings a feverish realm to the story by way of canted angles, shadow play and hazes, while certain images (shapes of doorways etc) are cunningly teasing the audience about what is going on. Cast are very strong to round this out as more than worth the time of the Brit noir film fan. 7/10

This is an amazing nightmare thriller taking you on a journey of constantly new surprising turns, and the fact that the journey is interrupted only leads a train of journeys leading you ever more astray and ending up in a nightmare abyss.

Valerie Hobson graces the film with her charming and amiable personality, whoever would have left a wife like that? - which the hero (Richard Todd) immediately realizes but to his dismay finds it is already too late.

The intrigue is fantastic. It's kind of Kafkaesque in its labyrinth of constantly worse complications, and not until the mother closes the door on Richard with her testimony of having identified her dead son herself you begin to suspect that everything is not quite all right - something begins to warn you about all logic and reality disappearing.

It's marvellously filmed with its turning more and more almost hallucinogenic, as the drunkard at the hotel really starts derailing for serious.

It's a wondrous concoction of a train of events leading you off the rails so often and so frequently that you begin seriously to doubt the honesty of the film, but you can stay calm - it all makes perfect sense in the end, as the detail of the clock finally concludes this strange odyssey of a psychological nightmare.

Just take a few deep breaths when the film-makers over-stress the plot points, and you'll find this a fun movie with a tasty wee twist on it's tail. The acting is over the top at times, with Mr. Todd doing some ridiculous grimacing, but it was made in '49' when I think these particular film-makers must have thought that their audience was pretty stupid, so they threw subtlety out the window. A good performance by the great Tom Walls. Before watching ask yourself if you are in the mood for this type of film, if so you'll have a good time-I did.