The Dummy Talks
| The Dummy Talks | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Oswald Mitchell |
| Written by | Michael Barringer |
| Based on | the story by Jack Clifford & Con West |
| Produced by | Wallace Orton |
| Starring |
|
| 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][2] It was written by Michael Barringer, and marked the film debut of Jack Warner.[3]
Synopsis
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.
Cast
- Jack Warner as Jack
- Claude Hulbert as Victor Harbord
- Beryl Orde as Beryl
- Evelyn Darvell as Peggy
- Hy Hazell as Maya (credited as Derna Hazell)
- Manning Whiley as Russell Warren
- Charles Carson as Marvello ("The Man With the Radio Mind")
- G. H. Mulcaster as Piers Harriman
- John Carol as Jimmy Royce
- Gordon Edwards as Marcus
- Max Earl as Yates
- Ivy Benson and her All Ladies Band as themselves
- Frederick Sylvester & Nephew (Eric Mudd also played the "dummy") as themselves
- Tommy Manley & Florence Austin ("Music Hath Charms") as themselves
- Cecil Ayres with the Skating Avalons as themselves
- Mann & Read ("Jugglers with Fun") as themselves
- Five Lai Founs ("Modern Chinese Wonders") as themselves
- Jeannie White and her Stepsisters as themselves
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The rather flimsy story has been contrived as a peg on which to hang a number of well-known musichall turns. Jack Warner, Beryl Orde, and half a dozen other well-known artistes are shown doing their acts, and this rather upsets the film's continuity. The principal protagonists in the plot are Claude Hulbert, who gives one of his usual performances as a scatterbrained war reserve policeman; G. H. Mulcaster, who is a rather too sinister detective; and Beryl Orde, who shows that she has an attractive screen as well as radio personality."[4]
Kine Weekly wrote: "It would not be quite accurate to say that variety never gets in the way of the development of thd erime theme, and other times when vaudeville appears to suffer irritating straight play interruptions, but although each department occasionally poaches on the other's preserves, ihe general effect, the overall picture, is both exciting and effective. 'I'hi stars, with their ready-made audiences, further increase ihe prospects of a sound British novelty attraction."[5]
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".[3]
TV Guide called it "a weird but engaging second feature."[6]
References
- ^ "The Dummy Talks". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ "The Dummy Talks (1943)". BFI. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009.
- ^ a b "The Dummy Talks 1943 | Britmovie | Home of British Films". www.britmovie.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
- ^ "The Dummy Talks". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 10 (109): 25. 1 January 1943. ProQuest 1305805948.
- ^ "The Dummy Talks". Kine Weekly (1874): 24. 18 March 1943. ProQuest 2676990284.
- ^ "The Dummy Talks". TV Guide.