meet simon cherry (1949)

"I never look for trouble."
Cheerful Rev Simon Cherry (Hugh Moxey) ends up at a manor house when his car breaks down in the countryside. Whilst there the reclusive invalid daughter of the lady of the house Lisa ( Zena Marshall) is found dead. Murder is suspected, so the Rev starts asking questions and a tale of love and deceit is revealed...
Likable film that owes much to its radio series origins as it's very talky.

room to let (1950)

"I must carry on with my work!"
Curly Minter (Jimmy Hanley) reminisces about his time as a cub reporter and in particular a story that happened in London in 1904. Following a fire at a mental institute he begins to suspect that Dr. Fell (Valentine Dyall) may in fact be the infamous Jack the Ripper.
Based as it is on a BBC radio play, this is overly talkie but Valentine makes fine use of his menacing tone of voice to add a sense of unease to the proceedings.

dr. morelle: the case of the missing heiress (1949)

aka Dr. Morelle.
"I've done my duty by you and I will continue to do so."
Dr. Morelle (Valentine Dyall) narrates the story of Cynthia Mason (Jean Lodge), an heiress who disappears. Could it have been her step-father Samual Kimber (Philip Leaver), who is over-bearing and resents Cynthia, or Cynthia's new boyfriend (Peter Drury)? To find out, Amy Frayle (Julia Lang), a friend of missing girl, decides to become the new housemaid.
Unremarkable thriller, of interest only to those who want to see one of Hammer's early films.

dick barton at bay (1950)

"There is something up and not a moment to lose."
When an undercover agent is killed Dick Barton (Don Stannard) is forced to fake his own death in an attempt to recover a death ray that has been stolen by the Russians.
A vast improvement on the previous installments, and a better swansong for Stannard, (who died before this was released).

dick barton strikes back (1949)

"If my guess is correct the atomic bomb is childs play compared to this."
Dick Barton (Don Stannard) is back. This time he and his team take on the dastardly Fouracada (Sebastian Cabot), who plans to take over the world with a weapon of mass destruction.
Boys own adventure, that shows the progress Hammer had made, being a more professional, and entertaining film than the previous installment.

what the butler saw (1950)

"Do you realise the scandal there will be in the country, when they realise that there is a native girl in the house."
Upper class family has their world turned upside down when an South Seas princess (Mercy Haystead) arrives to stay, as she is in love with the butler (Henry Mollison).
Comedy of manners whose time is long past.