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Opening scene... shoot out, lone cop out in the open vs 6 criminals behind van. Cop wins setting the tone for this comedy. Very much in the Leslie Nielson school of Comedy..Airplane, Police Squad, except the comedy isn't quite as telegraphed giving the impression it's played straight. But it's intentionally hammed up and full of deliberate cliche. A strange film indeed but it is quite funny.

An amateur cast support the brilliant Gwendoline Watford playing Usher's sister. Nevertheless the stilted acting ( Watford excepted) just adds to the overall menace and weirdness of this adaptation. High on atmosphere and with some outstanding scenes but obviously hampered by a low budget and plot adaptation of Poe's classic. Watford's solo piano performance is one of the highlights( she was a professional pianist and may have been performed live). Also watch out for the clever play on wall shadows. The hag mounting the main stairs and more impressive Watford in silhouette lighting the candle stick and blowing out the taper after her piano performance. A more impressive play on a silhouette on the wall you could not get from 100 takes in a modern film. Simply outstanding cinematography. The film was a huge success when it got belately released in 1950 and is said to have been the forerunner to the later Hammer Horror films. It was certificated with a (then) rare H certificate ( adult's only).

For the first half hour as Mcshane takes the slow lane ( three days!) to Cornwall via country lanes through the West Country and staying at odd hotels the thriller appears to be a promising romp. He is haunted by his past crime and has the feeling he is being followed for a secret he unwittingly holds. Sadly as soon as he switches to a more nautical mode of transport when he ( finally) reaches the Cornish coast the plot gets rather ludicrous and samey..the hunter in search of unlocking the secret is also the hunted.