Dead Men Tell No Tales (1938 film)

Dead Men Tell No Tales
Directed byDavid MacDonald
Written by
Based onThe Norwich Victims
by Francis Beeding
Produced byJohn Corfield
Starring
CinematographyBryan Langley
Edited byJames Corbett
Music byW.L. Trytel
Production
company
Distributed byAssociated British Film Distributors
Release date
  • 1938 (1938)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Dead Men Tell No Tales is a 1938 British thriller film directed by David MacDonald and starring Emlyn Williams, Sara Seegar and Hugh Williams.[2][3] It was written by Stafford Dickens, Doreen Montgomery, Walter Summers and Emlyn Williams based on the 1935 novel The Norwich Victims by Francis Beeding.[4] The film was made at Welwyn Studios.[5]

Plot

An English schoolteacher wins a French lottery, but on her way to Paris she is murdered and an imposter attempts to claim her prize.

Cast

Reception

Kinematograph Weekly reported that the film "received the approval of the press" and ran for two weeks at a West End theatre.[6] It also wrote that the film did well at the British box office in May 1938, adding that the film was "one that confounded the critics".[7]

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Of its kind it is very well done – efficiently put over and brilliantly acted. Emlyn Williams in the dual role of the pedantic and supercilious schoolmaster and the cold-blooded murderer dominates: the whole thing, and gives a remarkable performance, differentiating skilfully the totally contrasted characters. ... Suspense is well maintained, and the sadistic element in the final scene is in keeping with the atmosphere throughout. The supporting players give of their best, and the technical qualities reach a high standard."[8]

The Evening Standard wrote the film had "a hair raising start, but pace slackens."[9]

The movie received strong reviews in the US.[10] Variety wrote: "A blood-and-thunder contribution by England that has its drawbacks but can stand up alongside the average 'B' of its type in America... There is plenty of action in Alliance's murder mystery but also a lot of dialog, some of it a bit windy. ... No one touches Williams on performance, but some others in the cast are agreeable characters, well portrayed. Romantic leads are Sara Seegar, who's fairly good, and Hugh Williams, as a pretty youthful Scotland Yard inspector. ... A mildly impressive job is turned in by Marius Goring. English accents are rather pronounced."[11]

References

  1. ^ Vagg, Stephen (14 September 2025). "Forgotten British Film Moguls: Lady Yule". Filmink. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Dead Men Tell No Tales". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  3. ^ "BFI | Film & TV Database | DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES (1938)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  4. ^ Goble p.32
  5. ^ Wood p.94
  6. ^ "Flying Scotsman has a good year". Kinematograph Weekly. 12 January 1939. p. 121.
  7. ^ Billings, R.H. (12 January 1939). "Films which won the box office stakes last year". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 61.
  8. ^ "Dead Men Tell No Tales". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 5 (49): 34. 1 January 1938. ProQuest 1305799162.
  9. ^ "Murder most foul". Evening Standard. 12 March 1938. p. 9.
  10. ^ "US lauds Dead Men Tell No Tales". Kinematograph Weekly. 8 June 1939. p. 27.
  11. ^ "Dead Men Tell No Tales". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 5 (49): 34. 1 January 1938. ProQuest 1305799162.

Bibliography

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