Moviecut—Silent Dust

source: Silent Dust

Silent Dust

In a country slowly coming to terms with the consequences of a terrible war, it is fitting that those lost in the conflict are honoured. But not all of them were heroes and some of them are not really gone, either. This film is surprisingly engaging and surprisingly well-made too. There practically isn't a duff bit it, and there are odd moments of humour that contrast with the main thrust of the plot and kind of add to things rather than detract from them. Nigel Patrick's louche character is well drawn here. The overall plot is a little implausible but despite this it is a pretty good film and considering it is 70 years old now it is more engaging than you might expect. Eight out of ten from me.

This is an adaption from the stage play by the Pertwees and it really feels like it.Stephen Murray is well over the top in the central role of the local blind squire who has lost his son towards the end of World war 2.However he has nt lost his son.His son was a deserter and has indulged in mayhem ever since.His supposed widow has remarried Derek Farr in blissful ignorance.However like the proverbial bad penny,the son,played by Nigel Patrick,turns up and attempts to blackmail his wife and her husband.The end when it comes it is very predictable and pure theatre.Other than that it is nice to see Irene Handel fussing about in the kitchen as usual.

"Silent Dust" is another brilliant noir directed by Lance Comfort about a soldier who died in WWII but comes back secretly in the family's manor house because in fact he was a deserter, Patrick Nigel is great as always playing that soldier. My favorite character is the blind father, all the scenes with him and Nigel are full of suspense and tension and enlightened with impressively sharp expressionist photography. And gripping musiac score by George Auric. I just can't wait to see another Lance Comfort, "Temptation Harbor" with the beautiful Simone Simon and Robert Newton for example?