Cottage to Let

In 1941, a British film titled Cottage to Let was released, starring Leslie Banks, Alastair Sim, and Jeanne De Casalis. The story is set during the early years of World War II, when Britain is subjected to constant air raids and the Government is struggling to keep the country safe.

The movie follows John Barrington (played by Leslie Banks), a wealthy inventor who has rented a remote Scottish cottage for the summer. While his family is not with him, he has invited a young governess named Helen (Carla Lehmann) to stay with him and help with his research. As he works on his inventions, strange and unexplained occurrences begin to happen in the cottage. From the unexpected arrival of a group of soldiers to the sudden disappearance of a dead body, the events in the cottage are far from normal.

At the same time, a group of spies led by a man named Gestapo (played by George Cole) are sent to Scotland with the objective of investigating the mysterious activities happening at Barrington's cottage. The use of code words, hidden messages, and invisible ink add an air of intrigue to the work of the spies. When Helen is mistaken for a spy, she and Barrington are forced to collaborate with the British Intelligence in order to clear her name and uncover the real identity of the spies.

Alastair Sim plays a pivotal role in the movie as the mysterious gardener Jo, who seems to be very loyal to Barrington. However, there is more to him than meets the eye, and his true identity is only revealed in the final scenes of the film.

Jeanne De Casalis plays a wealthy and eccentric woman named Mrs. Croft who also rents a part of the cottage. She is an interesting character who provides comic relief to the film with her obsession with knitting and her tendency to speak her mind without a filter.

Cottage to Let is a war-time thriller with a strong sense of patriotism and support for the British Government. As the characters work together to save their country from the enemy, the film places a strong emphasis on the importance of teamwork, courage, and trust.

The movie was directed by Anthony Asquith and produced by Edward Black for Gainsborough Pictures. The screenplay was written by Anatole de Grunwald, J.O.C. Orton, Miles Malleson, and John Dighton.

Overall, Cottage to Let is an engaging and suspenseful movie that keeps the audience entertained from beginning to end. With a combination of mystery, humor, and action, this film is a must-see for anyone who enjoys war-time thrillers.