Sexton Blake and the Hooded Terror – 1938 | 70 mins | Crime | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Cumbersome detective thriller based on the adventures of popular penny dreadful sleuth Sexton Blake and his young assistant Tinker. AR Rawlinson’s script was adapted from W. W. Sayer’s 1937 story he Mystery of No. 13 Caversham Square but lacks the zip of the original story. Unfortunately the actors fail just as much as the script, George Curzon lacks the necessary looks and charm to play a sophisticated sleuth and Tony Sympson is just terrible as his overexcited and inept assistant. Tod Slaughter meanwhile characteristically hams it up as the villain. This was the final instalment in a three film series shot at Shepperton Studios for MGM and all featuring George Curzon in the lead role.

When Granite Grant (David Farrar) is attacked in China by assassins of an international gang of crooks known as the Black Quorum, led by the mysterious mastermind ‘the Snake’, he sends a call for help to suave sleuth Sexton Blake (George Curzon). Meanwhile, back at Baker Street, Blake’s assistant Tinker (Tony Sympson) is drugged by millionaire philatelist Michael Larron (Tod Slaughter) masquerading as a parson to discover what Blake knows about the Black Quorum.

When Blake is captured by ‘the Snake, who in actual fact is Larron, he is and left in a smoke-filled house – only to be rescued by French secret service agent Madamoiselle Julie (Greta Gynt). Blake and Julie then pursue Larron in the hope of apprehending him and exposing his criminal alter-ego.