The ingredients of turn-of-WW2, black-and-white, espionage, (cockney) banter, semi-comedic, etc., often implied the great 1930s-40s British films of Alfred Hitchcock, such as The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, Sabotage, The Man Who Knew Too Much, etc. Disappointingly, if not that surprisingly, director David Macdonald's 1940 'b' movie does not live up to such expectations as Barry K Barnes' adroit lawyer, Larry Preston, attempts to infiltrate a 'foreign' criminal gang by feigning to be their accomplice. MacDonald's film is clearly a low budget affair (makeshift sets, concise running time and one or two hammy acting turns) with largely hit-or-miss comedy, albeit with one or two solid acting turns. In fact, one of my main reasons for watching MacDonald's film was the casting of the great Alastair Sim as Preston's partner lawyer, whose role here as Samuel Blight, despite some nice scenes as Blight attempts to 'seduce' a seemingly well-to-do client, is somewhat perfunctory.
Barnes, cast alongside his then glamorous wife, Diana Churchill, as Janet, make for a solidly convincing (not Cary Grant - Rosalind Russell, obviously!) and endearing couple, whilst Edward Chapman (who was cast in the early Hitch, Juno and the Paycock) is impressive as the officious, blustering Inspector Bray, whose (verbal) jousting with Preston is a film highlight. As is to be expected with a 'b' film from this era, the stereotyping of goodies vs. Baddies is way too obvious even if the likes of Austin Trevor and Leo Genn turn in convincing performances in their attempts to influence the tide of the imminent war.
Indeed, the 'eve of war' setting, as both Preston and Blight get their papers to enlist, makes for quite an interesting denouement, the pair being latterly bedecked in military uniform.
