A thoroughly entertaining Hitchcockian romp that sees Mason play a disgraced naval commander on the trail of fifth columnists. Watching it is pure pleasure, says James Oliver.
This is the stuff! They Met in the Dark is a witty wartime espionage thriller setting James Mason on the trail of a fiendish Nazi fifth-column. Can one ask for more?
Mason is Commander Richard Heritage; when a ship is lost as a result of his actions, he tells the court martial he followed the orders he was given and that they must have been tampered with. But since those 'orders' have gone missing, he's found guilty. Busted down to Civvy Street, Heritage sets out to find out what really happened. With the help – and frequent hindrance – of Laura Verity (Joyce Howard), he discovers that the Hun are up to their old tricks and sets about putting a stop to their nonsense.
This really is an uncommonly entertaining film, a sub-Hitchcockian romp that bounces along with such verve and good humour that it's tempting to describe it as a minor classic. The semi-screwball romance of Howard and Mason is a pure delight, showing that there was much more to Mason than brooding. Quite charming.
A thrilling wartime espionage drama in which James Mason's respected Naval Commander, found guilty of disobeying orders, comes up against a Nazi spy ring when striving to prove his innocence.
Naval commander Richard Heritage (James Mason) is duped by Mary, an attractive, enemy agent who plants false naval movement orders on him. As a consequence of these false plans, a merchant ship is lost to enemy submarines and Heritage court-martialled. Found guilty, he is summarily dismissed from the Navy. Following his return to civilian life Heritage endeavours to prove his innocence by tracking down the beautiful agent who double-crossed him - but soon finds himself up against a Nazi spy ring.
