Pilbeam played Betty, the kidnapped daughter in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934). This would be the last time that Hitchcock worked with her, although he had actively considered using her in a project that never materialised. She was also in the running at a very early stage for Joan Fontaine's part in Rebecca (1940).

In many ways, this is a curious film, a kind of The 39 Steps for children. I can't help but thinking that the stars Pilbeam and de Marney as the teenage relations of Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll (even though the absurdly young looking de Marney was only a year younger than Donat in real life).

The film has none of the sinister enemies within feel that pervades the aforementioned film. It is straightforward and boasts just a few glimpses of the master's trickery. Sandwiched between 39 Steps, Sabotage and The Lady Vanishes, it's a though Hitch decided with this film to pursue the same themes but in a lighter mood.

Some of the shots which move from close-up to further away don't quite match - the editing seems a bit suspect.

Also, if Robert has never visited Erica's home before then how the hell would he know in the dead of night which bedroom window was her's? And the ending where the confession is made is just too contrived and too convenient.

But these are minor quibbles and if you take the film on face value as good old entertainment and don't make the mistake I made of arriving at it directly after revisiting 39 Steps then you will enjoy it.