The Green Scarf (Associated Artists) introduces a detective named Maitre De-liot (Michael Redgrave), who is a sort of cross between Hercule Poirot and Father Brown, with a dash of old man Karamazov thrown in. Deliot is a French lawyer, an ancient case-horse just about ready for pasture. A bachelor, from the bees in his bonnet to the flies on his vest, he is grimy, grouchy, up to his knees in litter, and almost down to his belt in beard.

In The Green Scarf Delict's client (Kieron Moore), charged with murder, is blind and deaf,...