The Captain's Table

This quota quickie was made at shepperton studios,then called Sound City.it was made by Fitzpatrick Pictures for distribution by MGM.I wonder if this company was connected James Fitzpatrick who made all those Technicolour travelogues for MGM in the 1930s.This film is a fairly epitomized mystery only with the unusual twist of being on a cruise liner.The production values are quite above the usual quota quickie.It stars and is directed by Percy Marmont who had a very long career.There are the usual numbers of murders and clichés that you expect from this type of film.Whilst not outstanding certainly worth a viewing.

Important to note that this a comic murder mystery, rather tongue in cheek. It is more entertaining, competently done with higher production values (cast of 50!) than some well-known-cast "quota quickies" and post quota (post 1960) minor British features. Quota films included the great Alexander Korda Leviathons - Korda had been attracted to Britain because of the financial and audience guarantees. An interesting piece challenging the "myth" of the quota quickie is at www.britishpictures.com/articles/quota.htm

I think a 1936 audience would have regarded this as a reasonable evening's entertainment, worth a full 1/9d A 5.5

Seen on Talking Pictures TV, Freeview ch81, 18th Oct 2015

THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE is an unashamed British murder mystery made on a low budget and with a no name cast. In it, the passengers and crew of a cruise ship are alarmed when one of their own is murdered. The finger of suspicion falls on the woman's husband, but the circumstances of her death remain inexplicable. Can the mystery be solved before the ship docks?

The cheap nature of this film is apparent in the way that we never actually see any scenes of the sea - the whole thing is shot on interiors. The production is just about adequate in terms of acting and production values, but the plotting is strictly routine. There are the usual red herrings, heroic detective characters, and some extras being bumped off to keep the momentum going. The abrupt ending is a particular disappointment, but as a whole this is very forgettable fare.