Candles at Nine

During the 1930s and 40s, there were many dozens of films with rather similar plots to "Candles at Nine". Fortunately for this one, about midway though the story, it decided to toss the formula and try to be (somewhat) unique.

The story begins with an old man inviting his greedy relatives to his home. He plans on announcing what he's going to do with his money after he dies...but true to the old formula, he's dead before he can make the announcement. At the reading of the will, however, everyone is shocked....the money doesn't go to his servants or sycophantic family but an unknown family member who has no idea she's related to a rich man. Once it's announced, however, they all seem to try very hard to impress the new heiress....well, that is everyone but the disgruntled servants who seem a bit more menacing and, potentially, homicidal! What's next?

The first half of the film stinks because it is just too familiar. Add to that an unnecessary (and annoying) song and dance number and I was NOT happy when I watched. Fortunately, the story heated up after the midway point, when the writers actually showed some originality! Worth seeing.

To someone of my generation aged 69 I can only remember Jessie Mathews from her playing "Mrs Dale" from "Mrs Dale's Diary on 1950s BBC radio.This is the first DVD I have to show her dancing, singing & acting.Yes I too thought the actress playing Mrs Julia Carvery (Mrs Hope) was a parody of Judith Anderson's magnificent "Mrs Danvers" from "Rebecca" especially when she tried to get Jessie Mathews to throw herself out of the window.There is a cameo performance by a very young Patricia Hayes who plays Gwendolyn a daily servant girl and forever in my mind as Mrs Cravatte from Hancocks Half Hour 1950s TV version.

Yes £100,000 was a lot of "dosh" in 1944 and Jessie Mathews' unscrupulous relatives are all after a share, despite being left nothing by the late Mr.Hope.If you have seen "The Way to the Stars (1945)" there is a character in that film called "Tinkerbell".In "Candles at Nine" he has a ne'er-do well brother (Reginald Purdell) and they parody Flanders & Swan at one stage giving a humorous recital.

Fortunately Jessie Mathews has the help of an ex-detective William Gordon who saves her from these murderous relatives.In "Millions Like Us" the actor who plays the doctor here plays the butler Griggs who tries to bump off William Gordon.And contrary to "Writers Reign's" review there are a few references to wartime shortages i.e. only 5 inches of bathwater, and turning off lights.It has a mildly funny ending and I awarded it 6 stars.

Unfortunately Jessie Matthews suffered two major blows to her life and career in the late thirties.Her marriage to Sonnie Hale broke down and Gaumont British ceased film production.She made no major films till this one.She doesn't appear till 20 minutes had gone.Then comes a stylish musical number.Then unfortunately it is the mystery film that takes over.It runs on familiar lines and really does Jessie no favours.Little wonder that she appeared in future in film cameos yv and radio.I was fortunate enough to see her at the NFT in London talking about her career.

If you're an ardent Jessie Matthews fan you will like Candles At Nine because Jessie does get to do one song and dance number. But other than that this is one very confused film. It seems like it might have started out as a satire on these inheritance murder stories, but got lost on the way.

As is typical in these stories old Elliot Makeham has gathered his closest relatives for a reading of a rather sarcastic will. After putting them all down including his Mrs. Danvers like housekeeper Beatrice Lehman and butler John Salew, Makeham reads that the fortune which he acquired through some shady means is going to a young performer played by Jessie Matthews who is not present. Later that night Makeham is killed during a false alarm panic over a supposed fire.

But for Matthews to inherit everything she has to stay in the creepy old house with the creepy old staff for a month. Why do people write such nonsense in wills? Still that allows Lehman and Salew to do their dirty work.

Candle At Nine is one confused film that should have stuck to being a murder mystery or gone for broader satire. As it is it's not that good in either genre.