While the plot of The Inn on the River (Das Gasthaus an der Themse) can’t match the other German Edgar Wallace krimis I’ve seen for sheer outrageousness, and while it lacks the gothic touches that made those films even more fun, it still provides decent entertainment for fan of this movie genre.This entry in the cycle was based on Wallace’s novel The India-Rubber Men. A mysterious scuba-diving killer is stalking the waterways of London, emerging to dispatch his victims with a harpoon and then disappearing into the sewers. Inspector Wade of Scotland Yard (played by the very likeable Joachim Fuchsberger who starred in countless krimis) is on the case, and his investigations have led him to a notorious waterfront dive, The Mekka. He believes the killings are connected with smuggling operations and jewel thefts.
Eddi Arent is on hand as usual to provide comic relief, and although the comic relief is completely unnecessary he does it reasonably well and without becoming too annoying. Klaus Kinski is on hand also, to add his social brand of vaguely sinister weirdness to the proceedings. Karl Löb provides some wonderfully moody black-and-white cinematography – you can almost feel the damp and the fog. Director Alfred Vohrer keeps things moving along at a good clip. Good solid entertainment for B-movie fans.
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There's some nice location footage of the river (or a river, anyway!) and some decent underwater scenes - although it's hardly Thunderball, never mind Jacques Cousteau!
The plot isn't the best - at least one twist is wasted, and the villain is another case of Last Suspect Standing - but they put their all into it.
The music over the opening credits is hilariously inappropriate - it would work with a Carry On movie ... although maybe that's what they were going for! There's also a nice musical number in the Mekka bar. Speaking of which, the Mekka bar is clearly located in that famous part of London called "1930s Marseilles"!
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