This film was shown on Talking Pictures this morning 21 July 2026

Anthony Asquith is the Director who does a really good job with this British wartime film with a thrilling climax.

These stills were taken from a Colorised Version that I came across

In the cast is Leslie Banks playing a scientist whose plans are so important to the British government that the Germans are working night and day to intercept them . Who could forget Leslie Banks in another Wartime classic ‘Went the Day Well?’ which came a little after this one – fact it was released the following year 1942

Leslie Banks’ daughter (Carla Lehmann) provides the romantic interest with Michael Wilding although she also shows interest in wounded soldier (John Mills).

John Mills’ character is convalescing at the family home after an injury.

Carla Lehmann is playing nurse, so of course, she spends time with Mills, which annoys Michael Wilding. This subplot becomes increasingly important, because John Mills is working for the Germans.

Meanwhile Leslie Banks’ wife (Jeanne de Casalis) has rented a room in the family’s nearby cottage to a mysterious stranger (Alastair Sim).

We learn that Alistair Sim is working for the Germans – or is he ?

The twist, is that Sim is actually a British spy sent to the area to fool the German organisation and counteract what Mills is doing.

In a very clever scene we do find out that he is actually a British agent – then the fun starts !!

Another character is evacuee (George Cole, in his first screen role at the age of 16) who has been sent here during the blitz. Cole is good as a know-it-all boy who tells Banks how to conduct his experiments, and who ends up helping Banks and Patch when Mills takes them hostage.

I must say now that I am not at all a fan of George Cole – I don’t know why but I am not

The last scene in which John Mills’ character is apprehended by Alistair Sim is amazingly well-played and full of unsettling images and tension SEE BELOW

I must say that I do like the colorised version – it makes the film well worth viewing