Night Mail (1935 film)

Night Mail
Directed byHerbert Smith
Written byCharles Bennett
Billie Bristow
Produced byHerbert Smith
StarringHenry Oscar
Hope Davy
C. M. Hallard
CinematographyAlex Bryce
Production
company
British Lion Film Corporation
Distributed byMGM (UK)
Release date
  • May 1935 (1935-05) (UK)
Running time
53 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Night Mail is a 1935 British thriller film directed by Herbert Smith and starring Henry Oscar, Hope Davy and C. M. Hallard.[1][2][3] It was written by Charles Bennett and Billie Bristow.

Plot

On the overnight Aberdeen mail train, demented violinist Mancini attempts to murder judge Sir Jacob March for refusing to grant him a divorce.

Cast

Critical reception

Kine Weekly wrote: "Development is very slow and laboured and is not helped by the somewhat stilted dialogue. The artistes do not appear to have been directed to the best advantage. Characterisation is sketchy with a comedy element introduced by the gentry's servants. This, too, is weak."[4]

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Competently acted and straightforwardly presented, with fair suspense values and romantic element. Useful popular supporting feature."[5]

TV Guide rated the film two out of four stars, and wrote, "This thriller is helped along by its quick pacing and unusual assortment of quirky characters. The sort of underhanded conniver portrayed here by Oscar was his specialty.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Night Mail". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Night Mail (1935)". BFI. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Night Mail (1934) - Herbert Smith - Cast and Crew - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  4. ^ "Night Mail". Kine Weekly. 219 (1464): 27. 9 May 1935. ProQuest 2338240056.
  5. ^ "Night Mail". The Daily Film Renter (2546): 10. 8 May 1935. ProQuest 2826329688.
  6. ^ "Night Mail - TV Guide". TVGuide.com.