The Return of the Frog ** (1938, Gordon Harker, Una O’Connor, Rene Ray, Hartley Power) – Classic Movie Review 12,315

Director Maurice Elvey’s amusing 1938 British crime thriller film The Return of the Frog stars Gordon Harker, who returns from 1937’s The Frog, along with Una O’Connor, Rene Ray and Hartley Power.

Gordon Harker, previously a mere sergeant, is now promoted to police Inspector Elk, to do some more criminal-gang boss unmasking, this time with the help of an American sleuth, Hartley Power as ‘Chicago Dale’ Sandford (with overseas sales no doubt in mind), as the police hunt for the criminal known as The Frog.

The Return of the Frog is more easy-going mystery fun, with a lighthearted, bantering tone underlying the thriller apparatus, led by the charismatic cockney in his oft-played, tailor-made style of character role, which he followed with the similar Inspector Hornleigh in 1938. Una O’Connor also stands out as Mum Oaks.

The screenplay by Ian Hay and Gerald Elliott is based on Edgar Wallace’s 1929 novel The India-Rubber Men.

It was shot at Beaconsfield Studios.

Also in the cast are René Ray, Una O’Connor, Hartley Power, Charles Lefeaux, Cyril Smith, Charles Carson, George Hayes, Meinhart Maur, Alexander Field, Aubrey Mallalieu, Dennis Cowles, and Patrick Parsons.

It was released on 24 November 1938.

It runs 73 minutes.

Though he regularly played cockneys, Gordon Harker was born in Wandsworth, South London. He was in three silent films directed by Alfred Hitchcock. His theatre set painter father Joseph Harker (1855–1927) provided the surname of Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel character Jonathan Harker.

American-born Hartley Power (14 March 1894 – 29 January 1966) is remembered as ventriloquist Sylvester Kee in Dead of Night and news agency chief Mr Hennessy in Roman Holiday.

Irish-born American actress Una O’Connor (born Agnes Teresa McGlade, 23 October 1880 – 4 February 1959) was a prolific character actress from 1929 till her final film, Witness for the Prosecution (1957).

The cast are Gordon Harker as Inspector Elk, Una O’Connor as Mum Oaks, Hartley Power as ‘Chicago Dale’ Sandford, Rene Ray as Lela Oaks, Cyril Smith as Maggs, Charles Lefeaux as Golly Oaks, Meinhart Maur as ‘Dutchy’ Alkmann, George Hayes as Dandy Lane, Charles Carson as Chief Commissioner, Aubrey Mallalieu as Banker, Alexander Field as Sniffy Offer, Philip Godfrey as Number 39, Patrick Holt as Cadet with Question, David Keir as Number 23, Norman Pierce as Policeman, George Street as Waiter, Charles Victor as Customer in Night Club, Dennis Cowles, and Patrick Parsons.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,315

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