The Dummy Talks

The Dummy Talks is a 1943 British crime film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Jack Warner, Claude Hulbert and Beryl Orde. It marked the film debut of Jack Warner.

Synopsis
Set over the course of one night, the story takes place in and around a London theatre. A series of contemporary acts are seen both performing on stage and socialising backstage. The murder of a ventriloquist takes place and two policemen, who happen to be at the theatre tracking a banknote forger, set to work finding the culprit. Ultimately, the key suspects are rounded up and a mind-reader puts on a show to reveal the killer. He's helped by a midget dressed as the dummy, hence the title.

Cast

 * Jack Warner as Jack
 * Claude Hulbert as Victor Harbord
 * Beryl Orde as Beryl
 * Evelyn Darvell as Peggy
 * Hy Hazell as Maya (credited as Derna Hazell)
 * Manning Whiley as Russell Warren
 * Charles Carson as Marvello ("The Man With the Radio Mind")
 * G. H. Mulcaster as Piers Harriman
 * John Carol as Jimmy Royce
 * Gordon Edwards as Marcus
 * Max Earl as Yates
 * Ivy Benson and her all Ladies Band as Themselves
 * Frederick Sylvester & Nephew (Eric Mudd also played the "dummy") as Themselves
 * Tommy Manley & Florence Austin ("Music Hath Charms") as Themselves
 * Cecil Ayres with the Skating Avalons as Themselves
 * Mann & Read ("Jugglers with Fun") as Themselves
 * Five Lai Founs (" Modern Chinese Wonders") as Themselves
 * Jeannie White and her Stepsisters as Themselves

Critical reception
Britmovie noted "a number of genuine variety acts add a flavour of the period, although they provide rather too much of the film’s running time" ; and TV Guide called it "a weird but engaging second feature."