The Florentine Dagger

This "B," based on a Ben Hecht novel with a good plot and a few perverse touches, has its share of surprises and pleasures. Woods is perfect for the lead, for he plays a callow, self-absorbed young man, Margaret Lyndsay is lovely, and C. Aubrey Smith--always a joy--is given a good part for a change. Also good are Robert Barrat, as a police investigator of large appetites, and Eily Malyon as the Mask Maker. Best of all is Florey's direction: fluid, inventive, filled with gothic shadows.

A haunting little murder mystery about having murder in one's blood. I was surprised at Donald Woods, who is usually a stiff block of wood, made good use of that as a man depressed about his family legacy. Guided well by veterans of the screen, he put on one of his more memorable appearances. In a rather dark case, Robert Barrat was the mood changer doing the comic version of a brilliant police detective. A fine Warner Bros programmer with gothic tones.