Bombay Mail

In India, a police inspector investigates a murder that took place on a train between Calcutta and Bombay.

A cast of odd suspects, especially with one of them keeping a cobra in his bag, a rather stern yet smug detective(a role Edmund Lowe can do in his sleep, though he's a little unlikeable here) and a orientalist India with yogis, sahibs, trains and beggars are some of the things on offer - it's a strong mystery that doesn't allow long unnecessary discourse to spoil the rather compact plot. It's quite focused and gripping, even complex, and the set-up and characters are well established before the hero enters the scene. Edmund Lowe appears fifteen minutes in.

1934's "Bombay Mail" comes from Universal's vintage Laemmle era, the time between "The Invisible Man" and "The Black Cat" (all of which had their music scores pilfered for the later Flash Gordon serials). Bengal's British governor (Ferdinand Gottschalk) is murdered via cyanide aboard the express train traveling to Bombay, so Inspector Dyke (Edmund Lowe) conducts the complicated investigation during the few remaining hours before they reach their destination. A second viewing may be necessary to sort through the multitude of suspects, including an irreverent young woman (Shirley Grey) who might be a wayward Russian singer, the late governor's wife (Hedda Hopper), keeping cyanide in her compartment, and a nervous doctor (Georges Renevent) expert in poisons. Murder victim Ferdinand Gottschalk graduated to crime solver in "Secret of the Château," while prime suspect Onslow Stevens (repeating the role in "The Crosby Case," which soon followed), was best remembered for 1933's "Secret of the Blue Room" and 1945's "House of Dracula." The various comings and goings hold little real intrigue on a first viewing, but once Edmund Lowe makes his initial appearance 17 minutes in, things proceed with much improved precision. Unfortunately, the killer's identity is all too obvious, especially after a second murder, when the Maharajah of Zungore (Walter Armitage) is felled by a bullet in the back right in front of the Inspector. Director Edwin L. Marin debuted with the Bela Lugosi mystery "The Death Kiss" in 1932, plus 1933's "A Study in Scarlet," 1934's "The Crosby Case," 1942's "Invisible Agent," also a pair of Philo Vance mysteries at MGM, "The Casino Murder Case" and "The Garden Murder Case" (the latter again starring Edmund Lowe).

A very rare film. If you can find a copy on tape somehow, rent or buy it. Photography and performances are all very good. AND that familiar musical score. Heinz Roemheld composed a truly wonderful score which was used many times over in Universal's "B" movies and serials, most notable being the 1936 "Flash Gordon" serial. Any fan of Universal's Carl Laemmle sound film era will find this a real treat.

During the 1930s, Hollywood had a huge infatuation with British colonialism. Film after film (such as "Wee Willie Winkie", "Gunga Din" and "Lives of a Bengal Lancer") portrayed the Brits as a good, civilizing force on their colonies and the colonials as either evil or subservient lackeys. When seen today, with modern sensibilities, you can't help but be a bit horrified and wonder why American films were promoting imperialism and racism. Well, "Bombay Mail" is yet another one of these films and like the rest, the Brits are mostly Americans with American accents and the natives are mostly folks who seem about as Indian as Chicken Chow Mein!!

This film is set aboard a train. It doesn't show the way the Indians ride (in cramped crappy conditions) but is set on the first- class car. When the Governor is murdered, there are many suspects...and one has a letter on him imploring him to 'stop the man from talking to the governor at ALL costs'...and the authorities conclude that killing the Governor would fall within the instructions of this letter! But soon the viewer sees that there are many folks who would benefit from the man's death and the film is like a typical B-movie whodunnit (such as a Charlie Chan flick) and "Murder on the Orient Express"...minus all the excellent Agatha Christie writing. Investigating all this is Inspector Dyke (Edmund Lowe)...an actor born and raised in California.

If you like B-mysteries, this one will satisfy. It's not exactly a good film but it is entertaining and I always like Lowe's starring roles...even when his accent is all wrong. Otherwise, you might want to pass on this one.

This is a fast-paced, richly-detailed murder mystery set aboard the titular train route which bisects India from Calcutta to Bombay (and is mandated to always be on time, notwithstanding minor details like multiple murders). Although the film comes from Universal Studios' B-movie mill, it more precisely resembles British thrillers of the era -- not very smooth or stylish, but with plenty of atmospheric vignettes, florid dialog and witty asides.

The writers certainly take advantage of the politically charged setting, cleverly working local customs and rituals into the plot, and even some local wildlife in one striking sequence. The cast of suspects is an exotic melange -- a maharajah, a Gandhi-like pundit, a French chemist researching cobra venom, a Russian opera singer (or is she a Canadian courtesan?), and for pointed comedy relief, a bathroom fixtures salesman from Old Blighty. Even though it's set-bound, the reliable director Edwin L Marin keeps the camera moving from place to place, with plenty of cutaways to the outside landscape for convincing local color. And there's always a suspicious character or two eavesdropping or plotting in the shadows.

Unless you're a die-hard mystery buff, you may not be able to keep all the plot threads untangled, but the "gather up all the suspects" finale is still a success. If you're a train buff, or love the lore of Britain's colonial days on the subcontinent, then this is a must-see.