The Twenty Questions Murder Mystery (1950)

A film that will remind you that a Dimbleby has always been on the BBC as Richard Dimbleby plays himself as a member of the Twenty Questions radio panel. The panel receive a series of anonymous clues that lead to murder.A journalist Bob Beacham (Robert Beatty) realises that a question sent by a listener regarding Riki-tiki-tavi is somehow linked to the death next day of a man with a name similar to it.Along with a fellow journalist Mary Game (Rona Anderson) they look for similar clues in the next edition of the radio program as they figure that a pattern is developing.It is never explained why the murderer has gone to elaborate lengths to the taunt the police but they seem to be more interested in fitting up an Indian manservant called Mohammed Ali.All through the film you get comments on the case by two BBC workers on the reception of the radio show.There is a lot of casual sexism in the film, yet it is a rather amusing, dated and diverting thriller.

Modest quota quickies often played in independent halls as a main feature provided there was enough appeal to capture an audience - and this little murder mystery from the tiny Southall studio seemed to tick all the boxes!! Not only were there a few sightings of some BBC radio personalities at the start (with a starry eyed fan sighing "isn't he handsome") but "20 Questions" was a very popular quiz program in it's day and the movie even featured a few of the original contestants although only Jeanne De Casalis received "guest artiste" credit!!Rona Anderson had been part of Rank's young ladies "charm school" but for some reason she just didn't stand out. She soon found herself trapped in Bs even though she once said "second features were not a good look - it looked like you hadn't quite made it"!! She was a lovely addition to any movie and her brisk resourcefulness usually gave more depth to the part than was often there. Here she played Mary vying for the big scoop with fellow reporter from a rival paper Robert Beatty and with all the chauvinistic wisecracks typical of the early 1950s. Both she and Bob happen to be in the audience of "20 Questions" when a question is sent in by a listener (an unusual occurrence) - the team get a lot of fun with linking Rikitikitavi to a mongoose!! Next morning an avid listener of the program awakes to find her husband dead - his name is Riki Tavi and a stuffed mongoose they bought back from India has pride of place on the mantle. After another murder the intrepid pair find that India is the link - and the connection is a trial where a violent man was sentenced to life for killing an Indian servant. He is now back in Britain under an assumed name and thirsting for revenge from all the people who put him behind bars!!There are boundless clues but no one seems interested - an Indian manservant Mahoomed Ali mentions a strange man who feeds the pigeons in the park but only viewers will link the clues, the cast are all too busy pointing an accusatory finger at Ali, even though he spends the movie scared witless that he is going to be the next victim!!Clifford Evans turns up in a pivotal role - he seems the only cast member who had seen better movie days (a leading role in "Love on the Dole" (1941)) but by the 1950s was firmly ensconced in the Bs!!

As a low budget British crime film mixing fact and fiction, THE 20 QUESTIONS MURDER MYSTERY works far better than the previous attempt I saw, THE BRASS MONKEY. This one takes the real-life participants of the radio quiz show '20 Questions' and incorporates them into a plot involving a vengeful murderer who gradually works his way through a group of old soldiers. His modus operandi is to send in clues and puzzles to the '20 Questions' team before committing each crime. It's a novel premise and one that works quite well thanks to the literate script. The director, Paul L. Stein, had a lengthy career that started out in German silent cinema before he fled to the UK in 1938 and became a film director over here. He died shortly after this production, leaving the film a fitting testament to his talents.Fans of the genre will recognise various tropes here, from the intrepid reporter running rings around the police to the villain with his secret motive and the well-staged and atmospheric murders which feel like they're out of an Edgar Wallace novel. As the reporter hero, the Canadian born Robert Beatty had one of the longest careers in Hollywood history and does a fine job, and Rona Anderson is ahead of the times as the sharp female reporter. Once again, Wally Patch (SALUTE THE TOFF) steals every scene as the humorous cop assigned to bodyguard duty to protect the equally funny Jack Train, and Kynaston Reeves plays in support.

The programme "20 Questions" was a very popular programme on BBC radio.So the producers clearly had the idea of cashing in on its popularity at the cinema.So they concocted this film.The first 10 minutes and the last 5 are a recreation of a show.The prospective murderer manages to get a topic u8sed which would supposedly be a clue to his first murder.Now why he would do that and why anyone would guess it was a clue is never explained.After 2 murders it is realised that this is a clue.However the lack of tension is a real problem as the real murderer is easy to guess.The last clue is rather baffling leading everyone in the wrong direction.So instead of going to kill someone he had a grudge against he decides to kill a woman reporter who he believes could recognise him.Now bearing in mind that the murderer had dispatched his victims in about 5 seconds flat,he becomes involved in a long drawn out climax in the reporters flat where he talks about killing her and of course in the end the police lead by another reporter,Robert Beatty,get to the flat in the knick of time to save the woman.This film lasts 93minutes and it is about 20 minutes too long.It is directed in a perfunctory manner which robs the film of any suspense.