NIGHT BOAT TO DUBLIN

UK, 1945, 99 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Newton, Raymond Lovell, Muriel Pavlow, Guy Middleton, Herbert Lom, Martin Miller, Marius Goring.
Directed by Lawrence Huntington.

Night Boat to Dublin is a small-budget, effective thriller from Britain immediately after World War 2. Of interest, it highlights the experiments for the development of atomic bombs. A Swedish scientist is kidnapped by the Nazis and held in Britain. There is a desperate search so that atomic developments will not fall into the hands of the enemy. Some of the screenplay highlights the horror of a nuclear future and the effect of the bombs on contemporary cities. Considering that this was written soon after the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it is interestingly effective.

Robert Newton is good as the secret agent, along with Guy Middleton with a slightly comic touch. Included in the cast are British regulars like Marius Goring, Herbert Lom and Valentine Dyall. Raymond Lovell is very good as the villain. The film was written and directed by Lawrence Huntington, maker of this kind of small British features in the '40s.

1. Enjoyable British thriller? Memories of the war? The atomic threat?

2. Small budget production, English and Irish settings? The cast? Musical score?

3. The title, contact between England and Ireland, Ireland's role during the war? Criminals and espionage?

4. The disappearance of the professor, the passing of secrets? David Grant and his involvement? His superior, colleagues? The execution of the German spy - and his refusal to give information? David Grant and Robert Newton's style, on the boat train, his associate meeting the businessman, the arrival in Dublin, hotels, trying to get identification? The associate and his meeting with the businessman - leading to his death on the boat on the return trip? David Grant, the discovery of the contact, the confrontation in the room, the exchange of guns? The waiter on the boat as the contact? The return trip, the disappearance, the search? Grant's insight as to the identity of the businessman and how he came ashore? The death of the waiter? His getting employment in the firm, the interview, the set-up about his being a deserter? Being taken into confidence, becoming part of the plan? Going through the marriage form for the refugee girl? His being overheard, the setting of the trap? Going down to the country, his being exposed? The rescue and the final fights? And the romantic ending?

5. The villain, the businessman and his cover, the trip to Dublin, seeing the old school friend, being followed, the false name, the murder on the return trip? His German associates? The firm in London, interview with Grant, employing him, the marriage, confidential plans, discovery of the truth, going down to the country, the artist and her hospitality? The confrontation? The exposure of the group?

6. The British officials, Guy Middleton and his comic style - the British gentleman? Participation in the plan? Grant's associate and his clues, death? The other officials, the police?

7. The waiter, the contacts, wanting money, his wife and her boyfriend, the confrontation and the violence, his demands on the boss, his death?

8. The world of espionage, World War Two, contacts and set-ups?

9. The refugee girl, the giving of the information? The marriage - and the romance and the happy ending?

10. The popular ingredients for this kind of wartime feature and memory of the war?

11. The strong emphasis on atomic bombs, scientists (working in good faith)? The experience of destructiveness - and the prophecy about the future?