The Dummy Talks | |
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Directed by | Oswald Mitchell |
Written by | Michael Barringer |
Based on | the story by Jack Clifford & Con West |
Produced by | Wallace Orton |
Starring |
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Cinematography | James Wilson |
Edited by | |
Music by | Kennedy Russell (uncredited) |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Anglo-American Film Corporation (UK) |
Release date |
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Running time | 85 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
The Dummy Talks is a 1943 British crime film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Jack Warner, Claude Hulbert and Beryl Orde. [1] It marked the film debut of Jack Warner. [2]
Set over the course of one night, the story takes place in and around a London theatre. A series of contemporary acts are seen both performing on stage and socialising backstage. The murder of a ventriloquist takes place and two policemen, who happen to be at the theatre tracking a banknote forger, set to work finding the culprit. Ultimately, the key suspects are rounded up and a mind-reader puts on a show to reveal the killer. He's helped by a midget dressed as the dummy, hence the title.
Britmovie noted "a number of genuine variety acts add a flavour of the period, although they provide rather too much of the film’s running time"; [2] and TV Guide called it "a weird but engaging second feature." [3]
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