Mystery Junction

Dull, Wooden acting, even Sidney Tafler doesn't help it out much. Still better it's better than a lot of rubbish on Netflix Watch the ghost train 1941, for a much better film in as similar vain, ie stuck at station with baddies about.

The scenario in which a group of people find themselves in a closed environment where a murder is then committed by an unseen hand was not new when this short black and white film was made. However, Mystery Junction plays out the tale neatly and efficiently, keeping us guessing all the way, although following exactly who has done what to whom becomes increasingly difficult.

The acting is excellent, the cinematography exemplary - there are some quite classical compositions, one in particular towards the end. This is a very British film, the drama comes from tension, not from heroics. Indeed, that heroism is futile is made plain throughout, and even where violence brings results, they will ever play you false.

The quality of this film is masked by its low budget, and, on the print I just saw on television, murky resolution. Two of the cast, Sydney Tafler and Ewen Solon, went on to prominent TV careers, and most of the others found plenty of work in television. However, for Pearl Cameron, whose performance was a minor highlight of the film, this was her second, and last credit.

While not an outstanding film, Mystery Junction is worth watching if you value tight, understated drama.

It's a murder mystery - or is it? Pretty enjoyable but most of the film is in a snowbound railway station

Larry Gordon wakes up on board a train journey, to an adoring fan of his crime writer, Miss Owens. The pair hear a loud scream and set off to investigate, whilst searching the train the pair stumble upon two detectives who are holding dangerous prisoner Steve Harding, who is awaiting trial for murder. Later a body is discovered, and with the horrendous weather stopping the train, Larry concludes that the killer must be a passenger on the train.

I waited with anticipation to see this film, being a huge whodunnit fan, this seemed in theory to fit the bill. Very much a B movie, although from the point of view of filming, production values etc. It looks very slick, it is very nicely made in fact. The acting is pretty good, Sydney Tafler and Barbara Murray are the standouts, both excellent in their respective parts.

I think the film attempted to cross genres, the typical British whodunit, close setting, quirky suspects, and it also tried to import some of the gangster genre that had been popular, towards the end there's a big shoot out scene, which seems oddly placed. The plot loses it a little, becoming a little messy.

It didn't satisfy me from the point of view of a whodunnit, as the actual mystery element was a little lacking, but in many other ways it worked well, overall a solid movie, but not a classic, it's watchable.

6/10.

Considering this is 70+ years old it is not too bad.

Budget confined to limited set scenes, basically on a train then a waiting room, it is a classic British whodunnit with a very worthwhile twist at the end.

Plenty of atmosphere, cold and fake snow LOL.