Night Boat to Dublin

This film caught my attention solely on the basis of the title. An rather implausible wartime yarn of how British Military Intelligence attempt to track down a kidnapped Swedish scientist who may be on the verge of a major breakthrough in nuclear technology. The story moves along at pace on the basis of hunch and coincidence, but that said moves along in an enjoyable way. Robert Newton is fine as the lead, but the real star for me at least is Guy Middleton who provides amusing quips throughout. Edited by Flora Newton one of a number of women editors working in the British Film Industry at this time.

During the last days of WWII, a Danish scientist is suspected to be working with the Nazis even if he is known for his anti-Hitler stance. Two intelligence officers discover a track leading to a relevant information leaki n Ireland and embark on the faithful night boat to Dublin. Only one is going to return with a plan to capture the spies... and he will even get married to keep his cover.

The plot, characters, and acting are engaging enough to keep you watching until dénouement.

NIGHT BOAT TO DUBLIN is a fun spy thriller that must have been shot in the dying days of World War 2. Espionage and its deadly results are the name of the game here, as the British authorities pursue a Nazi organisation running out of Ireland and in particular aim to rescue a kidnapped Swedish scientist who may have the secret to unlocking the atomic bomb. Half of the action is centred around the titular ship, with plenty of cloak and dagger shenanigans to pass the time.

And this film certainly passes the time well enough, coming across as fast paced and with just the right level of suspense to see it through. There's an early plot twist to rival PSYCHO and a delightfully urbane villain in the form of the charming Raymond Lovell, who has a real ball with the part. The sneaking around in hotel room material is good fun, too, and Robert Newton is a British hero in the finest stiff-upper-lip tradition. A triumvirate of Herbert Lom, Marius Goring, and Leslie Dwyer flesh out villainous parts, and the action-packed climax is delightful.

This is a typical Edgar Wallace style 50 minute B movie, minus the decent storyline, believable characters and any tension or excitement, and extended to 90 dreary minutes.

Even the great Newton couldn't supply any gravity to this lightweight nonsense.

Decent spy thriller in which a reserved Robert Newton plays a military intelligence officer leading the hunt for a scientist who doesn't actually realise he has been abducted by Nazi spies. Newton leads a likeable cast which includes Guy Middleton, Herbert Lom, Muriel Pavlow, Leslie Dwyer, and the overlooked Raymond Lovell, who actually makes quite a personable villain.