This film featured one of the earliest substantial roles for Ida Lupino. The pretty fifteen year-old Ida gives a competent performance as Mary,loyal sister of Ernest(A young John Mills),who is implicated in a theft at the Jeweller's shop where he works,and then something more sinister!
The interesting British production has Henry Kendall as John Gray,a rather staid Chemist,who upon his return from holiday,finds,via his Assistant Albert(Chirpy Victor Stanley),an unfamiliar camera in his car. He decides to develop the film in the darkroom upstairs to ascertain if the photos give any clue as to the owner/ whereabouts.
To his considerable surprise,one of the photos appears to show a killing:Another has a young lady standing outside her front street door,and luckily the street name is also visible. After an intruder attempts to steal the camera/photos,John sets off to trace the girl in the picture,which he does.It's Mary,of course! She is amused by John's flowery language,and,realising Ernest took her photo when he last left home,and hasn't been seen since,the protective and concerned Mary joins John.as he determines to trace the source of the other photographs.
Eventually they arrive at a Country Pub featured in one of the pictures,and decide to stay the night. Separate rooms,of course! However,a frightened Mary is disturbed by a menacing intruder,and moves in with John. Being a Gentleman,a platonic night is obviously shared,although Mary's very scanty lingerie must have been something of a distraction!
Next morning the couple follow a lead to a nearby ruined castle,and their worst fears are confirmed. However,the victim is not her brother.But a panicky Ernest quickly becomes the main suspect,is trapped by the Police and brought to trial.
Events escalate. The real criminal tries again to retrieve the "missing" camera,but is challenged by the resolute John! Will the repentant Ernest be given another chance? And will the cheerful,charming Mary get together with the verbose but stalwart John? Guess!
There is some innovative camera work,and brief "Noirish" direction from Bernard Vorhaus. Interesting location photography too,including Corfe Castle and an early Southern Railway Electric train! The music is atmospheric,if rather odd early on. Nice to see our Ida Lupino, and also John Mills in these early career roles. The supporting cast are quite good too. All things considered a movie worth watching!