The situation was this. In 1927 (according to Robert Osborne in introducing this and two other films on TCM) a British law insisted that British casts and crews had to be used in films shown in the U.K. by foreign distributors. Warner Brothers - First National got around this by doing films at a British studio they bought at Teddington - so that they would show one of the British films with one of their American films on the same bill. This proved to be acceptable, and they would turn out about 100 films in the 1930s and 1940s, before the studio was closed due to bomb damage from a V-2 rocket. Later it was repaired, but the law was changed and Warners sold Teddington to British interest. It still is in use.
Only a third of the Warners Teddington films survive, and Turner Classics showed three last Monday, and three a week before - all shown the first time in the U.S. The first shown on Monday was CRIME UNLIMITED. This melodrama fits nicely into it's London locale, as it deals with a phenomenally successful jewelry gang under one "Merrick" that keeps beating Scotland Yard's attempts to stop it. When they kill an undercover cop (they've also killed three stool pigeons), the Yard knows it must crack the case to regain public trust in it's abilities. The dead detective held onto a clue that mentions "A D 1935 +" on it. Hopefully this taunting clue can be cracked.
The Assistant Commissioner (Cecil Parker) decides on another risky scheme. Again, plant a police inspector to spy and uncover the gang inside the gang. But to do this, the police inspector must appear to be a really clever jewel thief - one that "Merrick" would consider for his gang. Shortly afterward we see Esmond Knight as Pete Borden, pulling off a clever jewelry snatch of three expensive bracelets worth 3,000 pounds. He manages to go to a gambling den to try to fence the jewels. There he meets one Natasha (Lili Palmer), who is one of the members of "Merrick"'s gang. He is taken (blindfolded) to Merrick's headquarters, and speaks to him over an intercom. Given little option (join or be killed), he joins the gang.
From that point on he acts totally as a member of the gang, but their well organized heists keep going awry. "Merrick" is increasingly suspicious of Borden, as all the mistakes occurred after he joined. The climax is when Borden and Natasha steal a famous necklace at a society party, although Borden's alias is revealed to be false. He escapes. But although Natasha gets a piece of jewelry, it turns out to be a paste imitation. At which point "Merrick" decides Borden (and possibly Natasha) are expendable.
It's actually not a bad little mystery, as we keep wondering who is "Merrick", and as we see each of Borden's leads passed to the police get stymied by this criminal genius and his gang. If the conclusion seems a trifle melodramatic (the actor who is Merrick seems too giggly when uncovered - the role called for Henry Daniell if possible for perfect affect). Knight is a feisty little actor (with sufficient English restraint, believe it or not). As for Lili Palmer, Natasha was a good early role as a bad girl who reforms in time. But she did go on to better things - and for awhile so did Knight.
Only a third of the Warners Teddington films survive, and Turner Classics showed three last Monday, and three a week before - all shown the first time in the U.S. The first shown on Monday was CRIME UNLIMITED. This melodrama fits nicely into it's London locale, as it deals with a phenomenally successful jewelry gang under one "Merrick" that keeps beating Scotland Yard's attempts to stop it. When they kill an undercover cop (they've also killed three stool pigeons), the Yard knows it must crack the case to regain public trust in it's abilities. The dead detective held onto a clue that mentions "A D 1935 +" on it. Hopefully this taunting clue can be cracked.
The Assistant Commissioner (Cecil Parker) decides on another risky scheme. Again, plant a police inspector to spy and uncover the gang inside the gang. But to do this, the police inspector must appear to be a really clever jewel thief - one that "Merrick" would consider for his gang. Shortly afterward we see Esmond Knight as Pete Borden, pulling off a clever jewelry snatch of three expensive bracelets worth 3,000 pounds. He manages to go to a gambling den to try to fence the jewels. There he meets one Natasha (Lili Palmer), who is one of the members of "Merrick"'s gang. He is taken (blindfolded) to Merrick's headquarters, and speaks to him over an intercom. Given little option (join or be killed), he joins the gang.
From that point on he acts totally as a member of the gang, but their well organized heists keep going awry. "Merrick" is increasingly suspicious of Borden, as all the mistakes occurred after he joined. The climax is when Borden and Natasha steal a famous necklace at a society party, although Borden's alias is revealed to be false. He escapes. But although Natasha gets a piece of jewelry, it turns out to be a paste imitation. At which point "Merrick" decides Borden (and possibly Natasha) are expendable.
It's actually not a bad little mystery, as we keep wondering who is "Merrick", and as we see each of Borden's leads passed to the police get stymied by this criminal genius and his gang. If the conclusion seems a trifle melodramatic (the actor who is Merrick seems too giggly when uncovered - the role called for Henry Daniell if possible for perfect affect). Knight is a feisty little actor (with sufficient English restraint, believe it or not). As for Lili Palmer, Natasha was a good early role as a bad girl who reforms in time. But she did go on to better things - and for awhile so did Knight.