The Windmill Theatre had a reputation for catering to the voyeur – a reputation that was not deserved if this film is anything to go by. According to the Prologue, the movie was made in and around the actual theater "as far as practicable", and also employs some of the actual theater personnel and members of the company. However, the musical numbers shown here – although sung and danced for the most part in a lively fashion – are both tamely costumed and inexpensively staged. In fact, they are about as visually exciting as a suburban sidewalk on a rainy day. The "mystery" plot on which the musical interludes are pegged, is developed in a perfunctory fashion and failed to engage my interest – despite director Guest's rather clever device of using TWO off-camera narrators. In fact, I found his direction both static and dull. Worse still, the "humor" is over-played. The sheer tedium of the Jimmy Edwards interlude has to be sat through to be believed, In fact, the entire cast, although large, makes little impression. Diana Decker tries a bit too hard to be vivacious, but at least she exhibits some sparkle which other members of the cast – particularly Marsh, Livesey, Pertwee, Clive, Anstey and Edwards – signally lack. And even Elliott Makeham doesn't do much with a role that lent itself to some exploitation. However, for those who insist on seeing something of the Windmill, the opening Military Parade number is the most exciting. Some of the other songs are pleasant enough. Executive producers Daniel M. Angel and Nat Cohen are not noted for their generous budgets, but production values here are a bit above average for a British "B".
Review of Mystery at the Burlesque
