The second highly enjoyable British Edgar Wallace adaptation I've seen in recent weeks, following on from the exemplary Dark Eyes of London. THE CASE OF THE FRIGHTENED LADY is more of a traditional old dark house style mystery, in which a young woman is being assailed by mysterious goings-on in a rambling old ancestral pile, leading the police to investigate.
There's little to dislike about this oft-filmed tale, which takes all of the clichés and somehow breathes life and vigour into them. Where THE CASE OF THE FRIGHTENED LADY particularly excels is in the efforts of the cast members, many of whom give fine performances, particularly those in support.
Marius Goring is fine as the likable heir, attempting to get to the bottom of the mystery; George Merritt matches him as the dogged detective. Felix Aylmer plays the mysterious family friend and Helen Haye the scheming mother. Penelope Dudley-Ward is the titular character and slightly weaker, but she doesn't really have much screen time anyway. The best two actors in the film are Ronald Shiner, who adds hilarious comic relief as the wisecracking sergeant, and Roy Emerton as the delightfully sinister manservant, complete with glass eye and stern demeanour.
For fans of old mystery flicks this has it all: secret passages, inexplicable murders, shadowy figures, strangulations, dark pasts, familial secrets, confuddled detectives, a dark and oppressive atmosphere, and plenty more besides. It's a delight.
There's little to dislike about this oft-filmed tale, which takes all of the clichés and somehow breathes life and vigour into them. Where THE CASE OF THE FRIGHTENED LADY particularly excels is in the efforts of the cast members, many of whom give fine performances, particularly those in support.
Marius Goring is fine as the likable heir, attempting to get to the bottom of the mystery; George Merritt matches him as the dogged detective. Felix Aylmer plays the mysterious family friend and Helen Haye the scheming mother. Penelope Dudley-Ward is the titular character and slightly weaker, but she doesn't really have much screen time anyway. The best two actors in the film are Ronald Shiner, who adds hilarious comic relief as the wisecracking sergeant, and Roy Emerton as the delightfully sinister manservant, complete with glass eye and stern demeanour.
For fans of old mystery flicks this has it all: secret passages, inexplicable murders, shadowy figures, strangulations, dark pasts, familial secrets, confuddled detectives, a dark and oppressive atmosphere, and plenty more besides. It's a delight.