They Met in the Dark – 1943 | 95 mins | Thriller | B&W

Plot Synopsis

A wartime espionage drama based on the novel “The Vanished Corpse” by Anthony Gilbert (a pseudonym used by Lucy Malleson, cousin of the actor Miles Malleson). There are capable performances from all involved but it’s Tom Walls, the urbane Aldwych farceur, who steals the limelight when cast against type as a charming villain. Supervising editor was Terence Fisher who would later go on to greater fame as a director for Hammer studios.

Set during WWII. Mary, an attractive female enemy agent pretending to be the manicurist girlfriend of respected naval commander Richard Heritage (James Mason) plants false orders on him, and as a consequence a merchant ship is lost through the lack of a convoy escort. Heritage is court-martialled, found guilty of disobeying orders and dismissed from service. He returns to civilian life determined to prove his innocence and clear his name. He tracks the beautiful femme fatale to Blackpool, and is given a message to meet Mary at the Bell and Dragon inn. She’s not there but Heritage is directed to a remote house on the coast called Orchard Cottage. Heritage visits the cottage during a stormy night but discovers her dead body in one of the bedrooms. Entering the house moments later is Laura Verity (Joyce Howard), and after some initial misunderstandings they join forcers to solve the murder.

Fortunately, Heritage does find a clue on the body – a piece of paper with the words ‘Child’s Theatrical Agency’ written on it clutched in the dead women’s hand. This, he discovers, is the name of a theatrical agency that is a front for a Nazi spy ring, headed by suave theatre agent Christopher Child (Tom Walls). Heritage and Laura follow Childs and his performers to a Liverpool dance hall – and discover they’re not alone in the chase.