Do you hear the howling in the night outside Red Rock Tavern? Is it the wind? A wolf? Or is it... DEATH?! Find out, if you dare, as we visit 1936's apostrophe-free THE ROGUES TAVERN...
The first three times I attempted to watch this film, I ended up asleep within minutes - which is some sort of personal record, it has to be said, and not one I'm proud of. But, let me stress, this has little to do with the film, the pace, or the eight glasses of wine. The Rogues Tavern simply has such a cosy, comfortable opening that, should you pop it on any later than 10pm, I'm convinced you'll end up drooling down your silk pyjamas too.
The Red Rock Tavern is all booked-up for the night, its windows rattling as stormy winds whistle outside. In the warmth of the lobby, the guests are gathered around a roaring fire (shown in such loving detail, you can practically feel the heat oozing off the screen). The camera dodders woozily around the room, introducing us to the various parties gathered in the glow of the flames. There's the strikingly beautiful Gloria, reading fortunes for her friend, Mr Harrison, in the cards. (What's that? The ace of spades? Oh, I'm sure it's nothing...) Then there's the smartly-dressed Bill and Mason, toasting their toes at the hearth. (It seems they've each been summoned to the hotel by a mysterious letter but, don't worry, I'm sure it's nothing...) And over at the desk are the establishment's elderly proprietors, Mr and Mrs Jamison, who are busy bossing about Bert the bellhop, when suddenly the door blasts open, admitting a gust of wind and giggly lovers Jimmy and Marjorie.
They're looking for a justice of the peace, a quickie marriage and a bed for the night, preferably in that order. What they're not looking for, despite being a pair of detectives, is a murder mystery to solve. But that's exactly what they're in for - and you too, if you're still awake - as, over the course of this blustery night, guests start turning up dead, the phone line is cut, and bars descend over the windows, trapping everyone inside...
The first half of The Rogues Tavern does a sterling job of setting up this scenario, with frequent killings, clues that suggest a wild dog on the loose, and that ever-howling wind providing an unnerving ambience. As for our sleuths, Wallace Ford's rather bullish sexism hasn't dated well but Barbara Pepper is a charm and actually gets to do some of the more interesting stuff, whether or not that was the way it was intended.
Where things come a little unstuck is around the point they should be really taking off, unfortunately, as we hit a midpoint lull that's difficult to explain. The carefully built tension just seems to hang there; a few minor but key revelations are trotted out in dull fashion; and it looks like we're heading towards a flat finale, with Ford assembling a group of suspects who were mostly in his presence at the time of the latest murder anyway, meaning they can't be guilty. Thankfully, everything perks up considerably as we head towards the real climax, the nature of which I don't think you'll see coming! It's a mad little treat, rounding off a film that doesn't quite hit the mark but, thanks to its atmosphere, proves more than satisfactory.
RATING: 🕸🕸🕸
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