The Missing People

The Missing People
The Missing People
	U.S. 1-sheet poster
Directed by	Jack Raymond
Written by	Lydia Hayward
Based on	The Missing People by Edgar Wallace
Produced by	Charles Q. Steel
Starring	Will Fyffe; Kay Walsh; Lyn Harding
Cinematography	George Stretton
Music by	Percival Mackey
Production; company	Jack Raymond Productions
Distributed by	Grand National Pictures (UK)
Release date	13 January 1940 (UK);
Running time	73 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Missing People is a 1940 British mystery film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Will Fyffe, Kay Walsh and Lyn Harding. Fyfe appears as J. G. Reeder, a character created by Edgar Wallace who works as an investigator for the Department of Public Prosecutions.^[1]^[2] The film is based on a novel by Edgar Wallace. Fyffe, Walsh and Raymond were involved in another Mr. Reeder film The Mind of Mr. Reeder released the previous year.^[3] It was shot at Highbury Studios in London.

Synopsis

Mr. Reeder (Will Fyffe) begins solving the disappearance of 27 people, after they had each received large sums of money from their respective families. Is the criminal-featured Joseph Bronstone (Lyn Harding), the guilty party?^[4]

Cast

Will Fyffe as J. G. Reeder
Kay Walsh as Peggy Gillette
Lyn Harding as Joseph Bronstone
Ronald Shiner as Sam Hackett
Patricia Roc as Doris Bevan
Anthony Holles as Ernest Bronstone
Reginald Purdell as Harry Morgan
Maire O'Neill as Housekeeper

Critical reception

TV Guide wrote, "Fyffe adds a great deal of charm to his role as he pieces the puzzle together in a manner baffling to the younger detectives. Otherwise, the plot is unbelievable but makes for some light-hearted fun."^[5]