Have loved Errol Flynn in many other roles, especially in a personal favourite film of mine 'The Adventures of Robin Hood'. It was interesting to see him in a different role. It is also hard to resist films with a mix of mystery, romance and comedy, being a big fan of mystery and appreciating a lot the other two. The title sounded suitably ominous and sounded really great and the idea of the story also sounded like 'Footsteps in the Dark' would be at least a decent film.
A decent film 'Footsteps in the Dark' turned out to be. Not great as such, it didn't see the best of Flynn and there are better examples of mystery, romance and comedy, individually and together. But was honestly expecting a lot worse and got an entertaining and charming diversion that wasn't bad at all, while also not living up to full potential. Plenty to enjoy but not an essential, and there are quite a few Flynn films that are more recommendable above 'Footsteps in the Dark'.
Will get the not so good things out of the way. Did find the ending far too obvious and the identity of the perpetrator and all of that was not really that much of a surprise at all really. Some may find William Crawley good fun to watch, to me he overdoes it here and doesn't quite gel with the light-heartedness, something that seemed to be the same case with another previous reviewer.
Flynn though doesn't play his role too heavily and to me actually looked at ease in his role, it is not easy breaking away from typecast roles and taking on different roles and Flynn did a good job on this front. He is well, if not exceptionally as such, supported by the rest of the cast, Ralph Bellamy and Alan Hale in tailor made roles for them that they could play in their sleep (though the sleepwalking certainly doesn't show) being the standouts. Brenda Marshall does well with what she has.
The mystery doesn't blow the socks off and does get obivious towards the end, but the story still intrigues and has some nice suspense. The comedy is not hilarious but for me it amused at least. The more romantic parts avoids being too sentimental or sickly sweet. The film is photogtaphed skilfully and it is directed with style and not in an unengaged way. The script inttigues and amuses, but it doesn't wow.
In conclusion, enjoyable but didn't blow me away. 7/10
A decent film 'Footsteps in the Dark' turned out to be. Not great as such, it didn't see the best of Flynn and there are better examples of mystery, romance and comedy, individually and together. But was honestly expecting a lot worse and got an entertaining and charming diversion that wasn't bad at all, while also not living up to full potential. Plenty to enjoy but not an essential, and there are quite a few Flynn films that are more recommendable above 'Footsteps in the Dark'.
Will get the not so good things out of the way. Did find the ending far too obvious and the identity of the perpetrator and all of that was not really that much of a surprise at all really. Some may find William Crawley good fun to watch, to me he overdoes it here and doesn't quite gel with the light-heartedness, something that seemed to be the same case with another previous reviewer.
Flynn though doesn't play his role too heavily and to me actually looked at ease in his role, it is not easy breaking away from typecast roles and taking on different roles and Flynn did a good job on this front. He is well, if not exceptionally as such, supported by the rest of the cast, Ralph Bellamy and Alan Hale in tailor made roles for them that they could play in their sleep (though the sleepwalking certainly doesn't show) being the standouts. Brenda Marshall does well with what she has.
The mystery doesn't blow the socks off and does get obivious towards the end, but the story still intrigues and has some nice suspense. The comedy is not hilarious but for me it amused at least. The more romantic parts avoids being too sentimental or sickly sweet. The film is photogtaphed skilfully and it is directed with style and not in an unengaged way. The script inttigues and amuses, but it doesn't wow.
In conclusion, enjoyable but didn't blow me away. 7/10