Troubled Waters (1936 film)
| Troubled Waters | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Albert Parker |
| Written by | Gerard Fairlie |
| Story by | |
| Produced by | John Findlay |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Roy Kellino |
| Edited by | Cecil H. Williamson |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Company (UK) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 70 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Troubled Waters is a 1936 British mystery film directed by Albert Parker and starring James Mason, Virginia Cherrill, Alastair Sim, Raymond Lovell and Sam Wilkinson.[1][2] It was written by Gerald Fairlie from a story by W. P. Lipscomb and Reginald Pound. The film was made at Wembley Studios as a quota quickie by the British subsidiary of Fox Film.[3]
Plot
A government agent exposes smugglers in a British town with a dwindling spring mineral water business.[4]
Cast
- Alastair Sim as Mac MacTavish
- Virginia Cherrill as June Elkhardt
- James Mason as John Merriman
- Raymond Lovell as Carter
- Bellenden Powell as Dr Garthwaite
- Sam Wilkinson as Lightning
- Peter Popp as Timothy Golightly
- W.T. Ellwanger as Ezra Elkhardt
Critical reception
Kine Weekly wrote: "Crime detection and humour are adequately blended in a mystery staged against the background of a remote English village. The plot is rather far-fetched, and the love interest based on the customary quarrel between the pratagonists, apt to be forced."[5]
The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Far-fetched melodrama ... Direction never gets at grips with fantastic subject matter, and action is occasionally difficult to follow. Best performance comes from Alastair Sim as unctuous publican, with James Mason a likeable lead as Government agent. Moderate entertainment for the masses."[6]
TV Guide gave the film two out of four stars, and wrote, "The action is sustained throughout and Mason, as usual, is very good."[7]
References
- ^ "Troubled Waters". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "BFI | Film & TV Database |Troubled Waters (1936)". ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ Chibnall, Steve. (2007). Quota Quickies: The Birth of the British 'B' Film. British Film Institute. p. 43. ISBN 978-1844571550.
- ^ "Troubled Waters (1936) - Albert Parker | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ "Troubled Waters". Kine Weekly. 228 (1503): 35. 6 February 1936. ProQuest 2338389210.
- ^ "Troubled Waters". The Daily Film Renter (2774): 5. 5 February 1936. ProQuest 3127109193.
- ^ "Troubled Waters". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.