The Secret of the Loch – 1934 | 80mins | Comedy, Fiction | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Enjoyable comic romp that is one of the first to include a storyline featuring the mythical Loch Ness monster. Containing a good deal of comedy and some stereotypical Scottish characters, the films major letdown is the special effects finale with a ‘monster’ that appears to be a giant iguana. Esteemed future filmmaker David Lean edited this obscure but mildly entertaining curio.

Crackpot Scottish Professor Heggie (Seymour Hicks) heads for London scientific conference swearing to have seen the Loch Ness monster, and demanding his fellow scientists investigate his claim. They mockingly dismiss his assertions as nonsense but an enthusiastic young reporter, Jimmy Andrews (Frederick Peisley), offers to travel to Scotland for an interview with Professor Heggie – but gets short shrift. Regardless, Jimmy travels to Scotland, as do a handful of his fellow journalists, and gains entry to the professor’s mansion where he meets Heggie’s charming granddaughter Maggie (Rosamund John); whom he quickly falls in love with. Jimmy eventually finds the courage to scout the waters and has a confrontation with the creature itself.