German Jewish actress Lilli Palmer made her English-language film debut in "Murder at Monte Carlo," director Ralph Ince's 1935 law & order epic "Crime Unlimited" about a dame working for an anonymous criminal mastermind in London. This 71-minute film was adapted from David Hume's novel "Crime Unlimited," but Hume was a pseudonym for author John Victor Turner! He also penned novels under the alias David Hume as well as Nicholas Brady. This is a literate British crime thriller helmed by an American features a largely British cast. Some have said the plot, with its mysterious but omniscient villain, was written in the vein of an Edgar Wallace novel like "The Ringer." Not only has our genius criminal forged a thriving crime ring, but he has also run circles around Scotland Yard. The Maddick gang-as it is called in the press--has gotten away with a series of jewelry thefts and embarrassed the Yard. Frustrated by their lack of success, three of their finest undercover detectives were exposed and killed, the Assistant Commissioner (Cecil Parker of "Guns at Batasi") decides to use a cadet fresh out of the police academy.
The Commissioner suspects the villains know everybody on the force. Presumably, a fresh face may fool these felons. Initially, Pete Borden (Esmond Knight of "Robin and Marian") comes across a cigarette smoking dame, Natacha (Lilli Palmer of "Cloak and Dagger"), in one of the London casinos. These two find common ground but Natacha isn't sure Borden is being truthful to her. Meantime, the Maddick gang take in Pete and house him in a backwater flat. Initially, Pete refused to work with them, but the mastermind of the outfit warned him that he wouldn't tolerate a loose cannon in London. Either Pete joins Maddick or he will wind up in the Thames. Our resourceful hero provides the Yard with clues as to his whereabouts. Eventually, after they locate Peter in a secluded boarding house, the Yard rents an apartment across the street from Peter's room. They set up a detective with a pair of binoculars who lip reads Peter while Peter stands in front of his apartment window. At the same time, another man transcribes Pete's words. As it turns out, this is the safest method for staying in touch with his superiors.
Eventually, Pete and Natacha link up again. Scotland Yard's best laid plans backfire on him. One of Maddick's henchmen suspects Pete is an undercover cop, and our hero is driven to a remote house where Maddick himself finally agrees to meet with Pete. Natacha is taken by another gang henchmen to kill. As they are cruising through London, Natacha does the unexpected. She wrenches the steering wheel of the car and the vehicle careens off the road and plows through a fence. Inevitably, a British policeman intervenes and Natacha warns him about Peter's dilemma. Maddick is usually shown playing a game of chess by himself while he transmits orders over a radio. Nobody has ever seen what this devious criminal looks like until Pete manages to meet him at the climax of the action.
"Crime Unlimited" qualifies as an exciting, above-average crime yarn with good production values, robust performances, great editing by Bert Bates, and atmospheric black and white cinematography.
The Commissioner suspects the villains know everybody on the force. Presumably, a fresh face may fool these felons. Initially, Pete Borden (Esmond Knight of "Robin and Marian") comes across a cigarette smoking dame, Natacha (Lilli Palmer of "Cloak and Dagger"), in one of the London casinos. These two find common ground but Natacha isn't sure Borden is being truthful to her. Meantime, the Maddick gang take in Pete and house him in a backwater flat. Initially, Pete refused to work with them, but the mastermind of the outfit warned him that he wouldn't tolerate a loose cannon in London. Either Pete joins Maddick or he will wind up in the Thames. Our resourceful hero provides the Yard with clues as to his whereabouts. Eventually, after they locate Peter in a secluded boarding house, the Yard rents an apartment across the street from Peter's room. They set up a detective with a pair of binoculars who lip reads Peter while Peter stands in front of his apartment window. At the same time, another man transcribes Pete's words. As it turns out, this is the safest method for staying in touch with his superiors.
Eventually, Pete and Natacha link up again. Scotland Yard's best laid plans backfire on him. One of Maddick's henchmen suspects Pete is an undercover cop, and our hero is driven to a remote house where Maddick himself finally agrees to meet with Pete. Natacha is taken by another gang henchmen to kill. As they are cruising through London, Natacha does the unexpected. She wrenches the steering wheel of the car and the vehicle careens off the road and plows through a fence. Inevitably, a British policeman intervenes and Natacha warns him about Peter's dilemma. Maddick is usually shown playing a game of chess by himself while he transmits orders over a radio. Nobody has ever seen what this devious criminal looks like until Pete manages to meet him at the climax of the action.
"Crime Unlimited" qualifies as an exciting, above-average crime yarn with good production values, robust performances, great editing by Bert Bates, and atmospheric black and white cinematography.