Hideout in the Alps: A charmingly messy bit of old-fashioned trouble

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for British black-and-white crime stories from back in the day, you’ll probably find something to enjoy here. It’s got that specific, slightly dusty charm. But if you need your pacing tight and your plot holes filled, skip it. You will absolutely hate how long it takes for anything to actually happen in those mountains.

The whole setup with the forgery feels like it belongs in a completely different movie. Anthony Bushell does his best with the role, but he looks perpetually confused, like he’s trying to remember if he left the stove on back in London. It’s a bit endearing, honestly.

The Margaret Rutherford factor

Look, seeing Margaret Rutherford show up is always a win in my book. She has this way of walking into a scene that makes the rest of the movie feel like it’s struggling to keep up. Even when the script gives her absolutely nothing to do, she’s still the most interesting thing on screen. She’s like a secret weapon they forgot to actually use.

The transition from the city to the Alps is… something. One minute we are dealing with gritty crime stuff, and the next, everyone is standing around in the snow looking slightly chilly. It’s jarring, but in a way that feels very authentic to these types of older films.

Observations from the couch

• That one scene in the shop goes on for about three minutes too long. You can literally see the actors waiting for their cue to leave.
• The fake mountains in the background look like they were painted by a toddler on a sugar rush. It’s glorious.
• I kept thinking about The Face at the Window while watching this. They share that same weird, stagey energy where everyone speaks a little too clearly.
• The nephew character is honestly the most frustrating person in the film. I’m not sure if that was the point or just bad writing. Maybe both?

There’s a moment near the middle where the tension is supposed to be peaking. Instead, everyone just kind of stands around having a very polite argument. It’s the least stressful "race against time" I’ve ever seen. You’d think they were planning a picnic instead of trying to stop a crime syndicate.

Still, there’s a weird, comfortable rhythm to the whole thing. It’s not trying to be The Devil to Pay or some big masterpiece. It’s just a story about a guy in over his head, and sometimes that’s enough to keep you watching until the credits roll. I think I liked it more than I should have, to be honest. It’s just nice to watch people in hats talk to each other for an hour. 🏔️