Kate Plus Ten (also known as Queen of Crime) is a 1938 British thriller film directed by Reginald Denham and starring Jack Hulbert, Genevieve Tobin and Noel Madison.[1][2] It was written by Jeffrey Dell and Jack Hulbert adapted from the 1917 Edgar Wallace novel Kate Plus Ten.
| Kate Plus Ten | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Reginald Denham |
| Written by | |
| Based on | Kate Plus Ten by Edgar Wallace |
| Produced by | Richard Wainwright |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Roy Kellino |
| Edited by | Inman Hunter |
| Music by | Allan Gray |
Production company | Richard Wainwright Productions |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors |
Release date |
|
Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot summary
editKate Westhanger, the leader of a gang of criminals, works as secretary to an aristocrat allowing her to pick up vital information. However, the police soon become suspicious of her and Scotland Yard's Inspector Pemberton is sent on her trail.
Cast
edit- Jack Hulbert as Inspector Mike Pemberton
- Genevieve Tobin as Kate Westhanger
- Noel Madison as Gregori
- Francis L. Sullivan as Lord Flamborough
- Arthur Wontner as Colonel Westhanger
- Frank Cellier as Sir Ralph Sapson
- Peter Haddon as Boltover
- Googie Withers as Lady Moya
- Edward Lexy as Sergeant
- Felix Aylmer as Bishop
- Leo Genn as Doctor Gurdon
- James Harcourt as bank manager
- Vincent Holman as detective
- Oliver Johnston as Cunningham
- Ronald Adam as Police Chief
- Philip Leaver as Mulberry
- Arthur Hambling as 3rd signalman
- Bryan Herbert as 2nd signalman
- Leonie Lamartine as stout woman
- Queenie Leonard
- Walter Sondes
- Albert Whelan
- Arthur Brander
- Geoffrey Clark
- Paul Sheridan
Production
editThe film was an independent production shot at Shepperton Studios.[3]
The final third of the film makes extensive use of railway locations. Among these, the main line between Bath and Westbury (Wiltshire) was employed, with a stolen train smashing through fake level crossing gates at Freshford station.[citation needed] The branch line through Limpley Stoke and Camerton was also featured, and a closed colliery in the Somerset coalfield was the location for the scene in which a steam locomotive crashes through wooden shed doors.[4]
Critical reception
editThe Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A good thriller in a light vein."[5]
Britmovie called it a "light-hearted comedy-thriller," adding, "like so many Wallace stories logic takes a back seat, but the speeding train sequence generates some lively thrills, and Hulbert and Tobin craft a likeable onscreen chemistry. Tobin is wickedly delightful as Kate, and Hulbert, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jeffrey Dell, gives an agreeable performance in spite of the artificiality of the role."[6]
References
edit- ^ "Kate Plus Ten". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ BFI.org
- ^ Wood, Linda (1986). British Films, 1927–1939 (PDF). British Film Institute. p. 95.
- ^ Huntley, John, "Steam in the Movies", Steam Railway magazine, 1995
- ^ "Kate Plus Ten". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 5 (49): 96. 1 January 1938 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Kate Plus Ten 1938 | Britmovie | Home of British Films". Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.