Dusty Ermine

That was a good flick! Very Hitchkockian in it's direction.

This is quite a decent, character-driven yarn about a forger "Kent" (Ronald Squire) who has recently been released from prison and who is determined to stay on the straight and narrow. Snag is, his young nephew "Gilbert" (Arthur Macrae) has fallen in with his former gang and they are now up to no good in Switzerland. That's where he must now head, hoping to extricate him before Scotland Yard in the form of "Insp. Forsyth" (Anthony Bushell) bangs them all to rights. The presence of Felix Aylmer, Austin Trevor and Katie Johnson add loads to the detail and charm of the plot, and Margaret Rutherford is just super as the shrewd "Miss Butterby". It is a little too long and the story is a wee bit all over the place, but that doesn't really matter - it's just a good excuse for them all to have some fun in the snow, and for the most part it's quite contagious. I could have done with a bit more from Squire, but what we do have is entertaining enough.

Most of the best parts are in the second half (as another reviewer states). It opens well, which includes a great exchange at the prison gates. It then settles into an English 1930's type film that is slightly askew, in that the crook is accepted back into the Middle Class family fold, and not much is said about the miscreant.

The plot develops, and could be quicker, but then by half way through the film, it takes off in style. It involves counterfeiting, mountain scenery, a love interest and general chicanery. It must be important case I thought, as there were undercover policemen operating in the UK as well as in Switzerland.

The Swiss scenes fooled me, as it looked like most of them were shot on location in Switzerland (?). Yes, there were backdrops but there were none for the marvellous ski chase scene, which was very realistic in that skiers fell over, unlike the Olympic skiers in Jame's Bond's OHMSS.

It all moved along at a very entertaining pace in the second half and for me was worth the first half. It must be said that the acting is staid in parts (it is the 1930's after all), and very warm in others thank goodness.

For me? I like this kind of film, and my time was not wasted here, as it unlike other movies of this period. I hope that I have given you an idea whether to view or not (I leave the finer details to others to identify).

Hi Folks, This is a great British film of 1936 with a good cast and story, the ending sequence will have you on the edge of your seats just like in the great tradition of 1930's serial cliffhangers, I found my self yelling at the screen 'for heaven's sake get down that mountain' not something I'm given to doing at films nowadays at 62 it's not something thats the thing to do... or is it, this film is great fun and the end chase down the ski slopes is a real cliffhanger, it took me back to Saturday morning kids matinée's during the 1950's, if you enjoy old cinema serials enjoy this film, if you've never seen this type film then watch and enjoy and see what you missed, also worth watching for the technology of the time, which in no way decreases the pace, great entertainment.

For a British film of this period it has a very fast pace, albeit mostly due to rear screen work. The performances, although a little theatrical, are very good for the time. Margaret Rutherford is particularly entertaining. I found the film thoroughly enjoyable, but then I like that kind of thing.