The Third Clue

The Third Clue
Directed by	Albert Parker
Written by	Michael Barringer Lance Sieveking Frank Atkinson
Based on	novel The Shakespeare Murders by Neil Gordon
Produced by	Ernest Gartside
Starring	Molly Lamontn Basil Sydney Raymond Lovell
Cinematography	Robert G. Martin James Wilson
Edited by	Reginald Beck
Production company	Fox-British Pictures
Distributed by	Fox Film Company
Release date	15 April 1935 (1935-04-15)
Running time	72 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Third Clue is a 1934 British crime film directed by Albert Parker and starring Basil Sydney, Molly Lamont and Raymond Lovell. ^{[1] [2]} It was writtenn by Michael Barringer, Lance Sieveking and Frank Atkinson based on Neil Gordon's 1933 novel The Shakespeare Murders, which also inspired The Claydon Treasure Mystery (1938). ^[3]

Synopsis

Two criminals try to recover loot hidden in an isolated manor house. ^[4]

Cast

• Basil Sydney as Reinhardt Conway
• Molly Lamont as Rosemary Clayton
• Robert Cochran as Peter Kerrigan
• Alfred Sangster as Rupert Clayton
• C. M. Hallard as Gabriel Wells
• Raymond Lovell as Robinson, the butler
• Adela Mavis as Zeta
• Frank Atkinson as Lefty
• Ernest Sefton as Newman
• Ian Fleming as Mark Clayton
• Bruce Lester as Derek Clayton
• Mabel Terry-Lewis as Mrs. Fuller

Production

The film was made at Wembley Studios as a quota quickie by the British subsidiary of 20th Century Fox. ^[5]

Reception

Kine Weekly wrote: "Production and acting are satisfactory, but cannot overcome a complicated and highly improbable story: defects which limit the picture strictly to quota value." ^[6]

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Lurid melodrama dealing with master crook's attempts to secure jewels stolen from Indian idol. Developed on lines of 'penny dreadful,' film resolves into hotch potch of confusing episodes reminiscent of old-time chapter play. Conviction is swept by the board, sliding doors, blackjacking, man in packing case, and other trappings of highly coloured nature being characteristic ingredients. Quota supporting feature for indulgent patrons." ^[7]

References

1. "The Third Clue". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
2. "The Third Clue (1934)". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
3. Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN   9783110951943 – via Google Books.
4. "The Third Clue (1934) - Albert Parker - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie".
5. Chibnall, Steve. (2007). Quota Quickies: The Birth of the British 'B' Film. British Film Institute. p. 281. ISBN   978-1844571550.
6. "The Third Clue". Kine Weekly . 213 (1440): 31. 22 November 1934. ProQuest   2338160113.
7. "The Third Clue". The Daily Film Renter (2407): 6. 21 November 1934. ProQuest   3127071327.

External links

• The Third Clue at IMDb