VHS : Dr Syn [1937]

Rating: - Nothing in Dymchurch is what it seems.....
When the customs and excise men of King George III are dispatched to Dymchurch in Kent to investigate the local smuggling, they uncover an intricate network coordinated by the local vicar, Dr Syn. As the plot thickens, Dr Syns secret pirating past is also uncovered. This is George Arliss' final movie, and whilst not quite his best (how could he ever top Disraeli?) it still remains a highly enjoyable yarn with more plot crammed into 80 minutes than most films these days twice its length. Arliss is supported admirably by a variety of colourful characters including a very young Margaret Lockwood, as Imogene, a local girl who unknowingly holds the key to Dr Syns true past identity. This movie is a little un-PC in places however is nonetheless definitely worth catching. It was also remade later with Patrick McGoohan and Peter Cushing in the lead roles. Whilst this version is probably truest to Thorndikes original novel, the best Dr Syn film still remains a matter of taste. Having not seen the Cushing version yet though, my moneys on this one.