Ignore the rubbish title, DUSTY ERMINE is an intriguing little crime potboiler made in Britain in 1936. It features an entirely stodgy and studio bound first half which gives way to a rather exciting action-adventure second, with location photography in Austria and the Swiss Alps, no less. The storyline is about a likable old-time forger who's just been released from prison. Although his family welcome him back with open arms, he soon falls into his old ways and becomes involved with a criminal gang whose main hideout is in the Alps.After a while, the action thankfully shifts to this exotic locale, building incident upon incident until the picture closes with a large-scale skiing set-piece that brings to mind the likes of the Bond pic THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. Seriously, the skiing action is out of this world and ahead of its time; DUSTY ERMINE must have had a decent budget for once, because I haven't seen much like this in a 1930s B-movie before. The cast is rather below-par (although Margaret Rutherford has a hilarious supporting turn) but when this film hits the mark it really works.

In recent years I've endured some truly dire British films from the 1930s, often from the likes of Carol Reed, so it's a welcome change to stumble across one that strains credulity only marginally and boasts a cast that will interest anyone interested in early sound films from both sides of the Atlantic. Margaret Rutherford, for example, is widely if erroneously believed to have begun her career with the play version of Blithe Spirit, produced in 1940 whilst Dusty Ermine, produced in 1936, finds her already well established and enjoying a meaty supporting role as a key member of a ring of forgers. The plot sees another forger, Ronald Squire (totally unconnected to the ring) returning from prison to the home of his brother and finding that his nephew, Arthur Macrae, has become involved with the forgers. The main thrust of the plot concerns Squires' efforts to save his nephew from a life of crime which involves a journey to a Switzerland ten times more convincing than the one to which Carol Reed transported Michael Redgrave and Jessie Matthews. With people like Katie Johnson and Anthony Bushell along for the ride this is a pleasant enough diversion.

Hi Folks, This is a great British film of 1936 with a good cast and story, the ending sequence will have you on the edge of your seats just like in the great tradition of 1930's serial cliffhangers, I found my self yelling at the screen 'for heaven's sake get down that mountain' not something I'm given to doing at films nowadays at 62 it's not something thats the thing to do... or is it, this film is great fun and the end chase down the ski slopes is a real cliffhanger, it took me back to Saturday morning kids matinée's during the 1950's, if you enjoy old cinema serials enjoy this film, if you've never seen this type film then watch and enjoy and see what you missed, also worth watching for the technology of the time, which in no way decreases the pace, great entertainment.

For a British film of this period it has a very fast pace, albeit mostly due to rear screen work. The performances, although a little theatrical, are very good for the time. Margaret Rutherford is particularly entertaining. I found the film thoroughly enjoyable, but then I like that kind of thing.