Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard

Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard
Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard
	Original lobby card
Directed by	Fred Elles
Written by	Nigel Morland
Starring	Mary Clare Irene Handl; Anthony Ireland; Edward Lexy; Nigel Patrick;
Production; company	Highbury Studios Hurley Productions;
Distributed by	Grand National Pictures
Release date	1939
Running time	65 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard is a 1939 British comedy-drama film based on the Mrs Pym novels by Nigel Morland. Written by Morland, the film was produced in London at Highbury Studios and was directed by Fred Elles.^[1]^[2] The film provided actress Mary Clare with her only title role.^[3] It was also the debut film role for Nigel Patrick.^[4] Filming took place in July 1939 with the film released in January 1940.^[1]

The film concerns the investigation of the murders of two people who are members of the same psychic club by Scotland Yard's only female detective Mrs Pym. As well as solving the murders Mrs Pym also has to deal with unhelpful male colleagues and her good-natured but dumb assistant Inspector Shott.^[5]

Morland re-used the title for one of his books in 1946.^[6]

Cast[]

Mary Clare as Mrs Pym
Edward Lexy as Inspector Shott
Anthony Ireland as Henry Mencken, a medium
Irene Handl as Mrs Bell, Mencken's assistant
Nigel Patrick as Richard Loddon, a reporter

Reception[]

Monthly Film Bulletin considered the story as ingenious and described Clare as "outstandingly good as the heroine" with a competent supporting cast. ^[5]

References[]

^ ^a ^b Wood, Linda (2009) [1986]. British Films: 1927 – 1939. BFI. p. 97.
^ Chibnall, Stephen & McFarlane, Brian (2007). Quota Quickies: The Birth of the British 'B ' Film. p. 244. ISBN 978-1844571550.
^ Hartley, Cathy (2003). A Historical Dictionary of British Women. p. 104. ISBN 978-1857432282.
^ Maxford, Howard (2019). Hammer Complete. McFarland. p. 621. ISBN 978-1476670072.
^ ^a ^b "Entertainment Films". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 6, no. 71. BFI. November 1939. pp. 201–202.
^ Reilly, John M., ed. (1980). Twentieth–Century Crime & Mystery Writers. Macmillan. p. 1095. ISBN 978-13498-13681.