Robert Tisdall (Derrick De Marney) is about to be convicted of a murder on circumstantial evidence. Rather than pay for a crime he didn't commit, he escapes, determined to find the guilty man. While hiding out and lying low, the fugitive enlists the assistance of Erica Burgoyne (Nova Pilbeam), a comely country lass too kindhearted to turn him in. Little does he know, she's also the chief constable's daughter. Together, Erica and Robert embark on a mission to prove his innocence and bring the real murderer to justice.

A young starlet washes up on a seaside beach and is found by Robert Tisdall (Derrick Demarney). Running to get help, he is spotted by a group of local girls who report him to the police as the murderer fleeing the scene. Taken in for questioning, Tisdall quickly realizes that as a stranger in town with circumstantial evidence pointing to him, he has little chance of beating the murder rap. His escape gives him an opportunity to prove his innocence, and not unlike the Hannay character in THE 39 STEPS, he finds a young woman who will believe his story. The woman (Nova Pillbeam), however, proves to be the daugher of the local police constable, which generates a humorous set of complications. Nonetheless, the police and local authorities are not taking the escaped murderer lightly. The ensuing manhunt tests the wills of the father and daughter as well as the resolve of the innocent man. The film is based on the novel A SHILLING FOR CANDLES by Josephine Tey.

Theatrical release: November 1937.

Hitch onscreen: Hitchcock wore a hat and posed as a gawky photographer in a courthouse scene.

Hitchcock took two days to shoot the long tracking shot in the ballroom.

The film retained its source novel's title, A SHILLING FOR CANDLES, until after shooting ended.

Actress Nova Pillbeam had just turned 18 when filming began.

DVD Features:

Region 0
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33

Derrick De Marney: British Actor
Nova Pilbeam: British Teen Actress
Percy Marmont: British Actor
Mary Clare: British Stage/Film Actress
John Longden: British Actor
George Curzon: 
Basil Radford: British Character Actor
George Merritt: British actor of the '40s

Alfred Hitchcock: Director/screenwriter/producer, VERTIGO, THE BIRDS, PSYCHO

Edward Black: Producer

Charles Bennett: Screenwriter, '30s-'60s, several screenplays for Hitchcock

Louis Levy: British Composer\D. 1957

Charles Frend: British Director/Editor