Not exactly Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre and not really how I remember
the book but obviously designed to fit the bubbling personality of
Genevieve Tobin. As Kate she has just left her job in rather a hurry -
her employer's daughter (a very young and exuberant Googie Withers)
has misplaced a cigarette case, accusations are being thrown around and
the police have been called in. You see, Kate Westhanger is the notorious head of a criminal gang - but thanks to the intrepid Scotland Yard
Inspector Pemberton (Jack Hulbert) , Kate is saved to plot another day!!
Genevieve is terrific, her sparkling wit is given free reign and she is
given a rare star billing - Hulbert and she have great rapport but Tobin
would put anyone at their ease. Kate is running her gang like clockwork
but there is rupture in the ranks - Gregori (Noel Madison) is planning his
own little bank job and he has a few of her gang onside!! It is a stretch
believing in Genevieve as the master mind of a gang of surly thugs -
when she says "I've planned everything down to the last detail and have
I ever steered you wrong before" you almost expect her to pout and
stamp her foot!!
Delightful scene - first time I've ever seen a milk bar in a movie and what
a milk bar!! It may have been an American invention but the Brits took it
to a whole new level!!
Also Noel Madison who originally was from the stage where he had
diverse parts, in movies he was usually a "dese, dems and does" wise
guy - in "Kate" he was a bad guy but with a very passable British accent
as Tobin had also. Another gang member, this one on Kate's side was
Arthur Wontner who made a very good Sherlock Holmes in a series
from the early to the late 1930s. Francis L. Sullivan definitely playing
against type as Lord Flamborough, the rattled father of socialite Googie
Withers who luckily didn't have a huge part in the movie as she was a
dead ringer for Genevieve!!
Recommended!!
