The Missing Man

The second in the series of Scotland Yard mysteries, directed once again by Ken Hughes, this one involves moving the action from Britain to France as well as a dream-sequence. There is probably a little too much plot-narration for a 25-minute thriller, but the action lurches headlong to a violent and unexpected denouement. Worth the time to watch.

Edgar Lustgarten narrates a tragic story with a psychic twist.

The Reverend John Neill and his wife have retired to their new home. They were due to meet their son Gerald in London only to find out that he has suddenly gone to Paris.

To the police this is just another routine missing persons case. They close the file once they get reports from Paris that a person matching Gerald's description has been seen in Paris. It seems Gerald has withdrawn a lot of money from French banks.

The retired vicar goes to Paris to continue the search for his son. It was prompted by a disturbing dream his wife had, that Gerald's body was down in some well.

The vicar comes across Gerald's friend who tells him that his son had never came to Paris. They were due to travel there together.

When the vicar returns to London, he finds a clue that takes him to a strange farm, as described in the dream his wife had. There is also a well on the farm.

Lustgarten could never explain the reasons for the wife's dream. It is a nice little thriller with some spookiness.