The Echo Murders has David Farrar who would in two years get his career role as Mr. Dean in Black Narcissus essays the role of two fisted action detective Sexton Blake. The Blake character was far more the American type detective like Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe than the classic British sleuth Sherlock Holmes. And his character was the center of hundreds of stories in British pulp fiction.In this film Farrar is called in when a man shot to death sent a Dictaphone recording of a confession of a murder that the victim committed over 20 years earlier prior to his demise. It all looks like a domestic dispute of some kind, the coroner calls it suicide, Farrar calls it murder and the boyfriend of the deceased's adopted daughter Dennis Price is arrested.It turns out to be more than that though and in the end it involves some Nazi fifth columnists trying to take over a tin mine on the Cornwall coast and use it as a secret base for a westward invasion of Great Britain.Some sloppy writing and editing unfortunately characterizes The Echo Murders as bodies start dropping all over Cornwall. But this was what they called in the United Kingdom a quota quickie and they weren't any more careful with their B films than we were with our's.Still it's not all that bad and quite the curiosity for today's audience.

I have never seen any of the Sexton Blake films. Although quite a few were made according to IMDb, they almost never are seen here in the States--so I really cannot compare it to the rest. However, based solely on this one film, it was unremarkable--and a bit dated even when it debuted in 1945. After all, the war was all but won--and this film is about a Nazi invasion of the UK. This would have been VERY timely for 1940 (when this seemed likely) but by the time the film came out, this wasn't a fear any rational person would have had. In addition, the whole idea of Nazis infiltrating and going after a mine seemed very, very far-fetched. However, the acting was solid, the plot engaging (if you turned off your brain) and the characters reasonably compelling (especially if you ignore the seemingly deliberate parallels to Sherlock Holmes)--so it does make for a nice time-passer. Not a bad film but far from inspired.

David Farrer was a reliable leading man of the 40s and 50s but even he can do little to rescue this sorry mess.It is a substandard rip off of Sherlock Holmes with a plot so confusing it is difficult to understand precisely what is happening.So many details of Holmes are shamelessly utilised such as his Baker Street address,his use of disguises and ability to get out of numerous tight corners.however this film is so cheap that it spares every expense.Thus when Farrer is caught for the umpteenth time by the master criminal he has to explain his previous escape because we don't actually see it.The action is laughable with punches clearly missing their mark by a mile.Some of the cave settings look more like a borrowed Santas Grotto.Even a young,up and coming Dennis Price can do little with his role.So if you are looking for a decent thriller give this one a miss.

It begins with complex web of events: Two thugs are waiting to meet up with a third in a seaside hotel. They find their friend dead on the beach and promptly rob him of all his goods. An "accident" at a mine is blamed on the manager who is dismissed. The mine owner, who is being blackmailed and is in fear for his life, sends a message to super sleuth Sexton Blake to come and investigate. A mysterious voice gives instructions to a henchmen from a hiding place deep in a sea cave...From there is spins out into a mostly exciting tale of intrigue and espionage. This plays out like a Hollywood programmer but on steroids, with big destructive fights, twists that are twists and a go for it attitude that can't be beat.I've never really run across Sexton Blake before. I know that he was/is a fictional creation to rival Sherlock Holmes in England. He appeared here in the US in a movie serial and that he was the hero in several films from England including one with Tod Slaughter as the villain. He was a character that never really crossed the Atlantic so we movie/mystery fans have little knowledge of his super exploits.Based on this film its a shame that we haven't gotten more of his stories. This is a slam bang adventure that keeps you glued to the screen as enemies become friend, friends become enemies and the only person you can be certain of in the entire film is Sexton Blake who has all of the murder and mayhem swim around him.This is a really good film that for the most part I can't recommend enough. The problem is that the comings and goings are much too complicated for a slam bang 75 minute movie. There is simply too much going on and as the film hits the final fifteen or twenty minutes you begin to feel that something was left out. There is simply too much crammed into those final minutes and details end up shooting all over the floor never to be recovered. (Please forgive my lack of detail in this regard, I can't explain it with out giving too much away, which I don't want to do, since you really should see this film) If you come across this small gem from England take the time and watch it, you'll be glad you did.