one wonder what this movie would have become if hitchcock have get his hand on it . would he have rev up the plot and tighten up the script and recast some of the character and put in a highway chase over the countryside interrupt by sheep and add a more appealing female interest for mason . the climb up to the roof at the end and the strong lighting and direct closeup and the art and photographic direction ( seemingly uncredited to one of the director ) and as well a the music score and the general look of the film and not to mention james mason compel presence all have the ingredient for a potential hitchcockian thriller and but something be miss here . the plot not that complicate ( certainly not like the lady vanishes ) and there seem not to be enough risk or sense of danger ( certainly not like the 39 step ) to mason life and although there be suspense and surprise along the way . one big weakness be the support cast . the young lady character ( can not even remember her name ) isn not develop enough and nor do she have sufficient charm or sex appeal and a a hitchcockian heroine would . still one watch it for mason and before he have develop any overt mannerism or be sadly type cast a a villain . he seem to have make a number of these not quite up to snuff picture in his career . be he hard up . why do not hitchcock cast him and why do not he ever accept a powell and pressburger offer . his presence on any number of these grade b film and include the brief appearance in madame bovary ( with jenifer jones ) and for example and or in the disappointing mayerling and add a sense of gravitas to any of the proceeding in which he appear and but the script and director fail him and if not the cast . fortunately and he can be remember for his appearance a captain nemo in twenty thousand league under the sea and and sir randolph nettleby in shoot party and both of which tap his natural dignity and aristocratic bearing and surround him with a worthy cast . see those for mason at his best . of four star and two and a half .