IMDb meta-data is runtime of 1 hour and 5 minutes, rated 5.3 by 89 cinematizens.
Genre: krimi.
Verdict: Slow but ahead of its time.
Two middle age, middle class women die without any apparent case of death after attending a séance with a professional medium. For reasons not at all clear to this viewer the decision is to assign a female officer to investigate. Ah, but there are no female investigating officers so the senior, female traffic warden, Mrs Pym, is summoned, and offered the assignment with the temporary promotion to inspector. She agrees with an alacrity that surprises all.
A male offsider is assigned to assistant and also to keep an eye on her. Nudge, nudge, wink. In fact, he quickly subordinates himself to her.
She changes out of uniform and sets off. First she tries to figure out the (ingenious and fantastic) means of murder, because it is murder! Now I realise the suspicion that dogs have of vacuum cleaners is warranted. She also starts trying to identify, provoke, and trap the murderer. She makes mistakes but keeps going. The plot is thickened because….SPOILER…there were two villains working on different agendas. (Admission, I forget the details and it was just last night.)
Mary Clare (1892-1970) was Mrs Pym. Most of her theatrical career was on the stage with a few supporting roles in films likeThe Clairvoyant (1935), The Lady Vanishes (1938), and Oliver Twist (1948). This title was her only lead. Her later work was in television. I had rather hoped this was the first of a series, but not so.
It was released on 13 April 1940 just before the Phoney War got real.