I really enjoy this film. It's more of a "why-have-they-done-it", than a "who-done-it", and again Hitchcock has us trying to solve the mystery right along with the characters. But this time, the film feels playful and light, and doesn't take itself too seriously. I hadn't seen Margaret Lockwood or Michael Redgrave in any other film, and they are really enjoyable in this together. (Looking at Redgrave's
IMDb filmography, this was actually his first film!) Dame May Whitty I've enjoyed in bit parts in other films, and she's a delight in this. And, of course there's the comic scenes with the cricket loving Englishmen. I think watching films from this era, you get more joy out of smaller things like these little gems of scenes. Now we seem to need so much "more" to entertain us. This is definitely a jewel from the 1930's.
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I can't quite figure out how a lyric free melody can be code for a message unless someone has perfect pitch and knows exactly what notes were sung. But, if you don't ponder it too long, it's an interesting MacGuffin. Another observation: Ms. Froy high-tailed it through those woods when leaving the train, didn't she? Who knew the old dame had it in her!