WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Nicolas Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Brooklynn There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

dbborroughs George Saunders is a forger who steals a rare copy of Hamlet, killing a guard in the process. Months later an associate of his is selling forgeries of the book for great sums of money. One of the forgeries is sold to a man working for the Nazi's. Not happy at being taken the Nazi front man insists on getting his money back, at the same time an investigator working for one of the other swindled clients shows up. The middle woman in an effort to keep herself safe begins to play all sides against each other and sets up a meeting at the New York public library between various parties, however as people begin to die, the library is locked down and more murders (and perhaps some rare book larceny) seem to be close to happening. Complex murder mystery is a good little thriller with a great cast (Saunders is joined by Richard Denning and a cast of solid supporting players) If there is a flaw the film is almost too complicated with plots with in plots and everyone pretty much out for themselves. The layers of theft, forgery, murder and war time intrigue (this was 1942) are almost too many for the brief 70 minute running time. Still its an enjoyable little film with a darkness and sense of inescapable doom for some of the characters that clearly marks this as one of the first film noirs. Until Denning shows up we're down among some charming thieves, whom we like, perhaps even more than the hero, but its clear from word and deed this is not going to have a completely happy ending, and they know it, even if they fight it. A good little film that's worth searching out.

tedg Toward the end of the great period of experimentation, we have some experiments in excess.The story here is about four great minds colliding, each intending to outsmart and probably kill the others.One is a master forger who steals great books in order to sell copies. At the opening of the film, he steals a unique "Hamlet."A second is a master detective, whose mere name throws everyone into a guarded position and further intrigue.Then you have a (presumably) beautiful and intelligent woman, initially the forger's mistress and assistant. She plays all sides against the others for her benefit.And because the US was at war with evil Germany, we have an evil German and his German henchmen. He was an unhappy customer of a fraudulent copy of the purloined Hamlet. (Interestingly, the so called Burbage Hamlet was itself stolen.) His purchase was with Nazi money that itself was stolen.Witnessing the whole thing is the sweet, sweet fiancé of a GI.These four arrange to be in a grand public library (London?) just at closing time. What we see is a game of wits. People die. Books are stolen and restolen. Its a great idea, and perhaps in better hands it would have worked. But this is bizarrely confusing and uncinematic. Its interesting only in its ambitions, which as high as the best con movie.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

lucy-66 The plot is as much of a riddle as the psychology of the two mainvillains: George Sanders and the perfect noir woman. They calmlydiscuss their need to fail, self-sabotage and love of punishmentand fear, namechecking Freud but in a skeptical aside. The(blackhaired of course) girl spends most of the action in furs, highheels and a spiky hat with a veil. (You mean that's not how youdress to visit your local library?) Her words and actions are alwaysambiguous. The library setting is played for all it is worth:dialogues take place in rooms filled with antique furniture,classical sculpture or old musical instruments. Sanders, seenthrough the 'prison bars' created by the strings of a harp (usuallyplayed by angels), plucks one out to use as a torture instrument.We last see him deliberately cutting his wrists on the handcuffsand looking forward to his execution. A routine thriller? I don't thinkso. xxxx

suw A competent B-noir, with the interesting twist of being set in a library. George Sanders' erudite villain is an oily delight; otherwise it's a somewhat overwrought collection of hard-boiled detective film cliches.