Ricardo Cortez, who may have snatched the lead in this mystery thanks to his starring in the original MALTESE FALCON (1931) is just plain fun to watch. He has a neat nickname, Farns Barns, which causes a lot of double takes because it sounds more like Fonz Bonz?
Cortez gets caught up in the case of a murdered high class madam, during one dark and stormy night, and the audience is treated to one spooky whodunit. In fact, this pre- code film, definitely ahead of its time, was inspired by an NBC summer radio series that challenged listeners to come up with a daring ending.
Interestingly, despite all the submitted endings, the writers came up with their own conclusion.
This screenplay may have inspired the plot of another slick pre-code drama, BABY FACE, starring Barbara Stanwyck, only her devious character lives. Special nod to Sam Hardy as Cortez's winking, gun toting side-kick and veteran Pauline Frederick as the cold as ice lady of the house.
Looks as though the ending was filmed at Malibu, and beautiful as ever. If only it was in color!
This is as good as it gets, now on dvd for all us spook busters!
Cortez gets caught up in the case of a murdered high class madam, during one dark and stormy night, and the audience is treated to one spooky whodunit. In fact, this pre- code film, definitely ahead of its time, was inspired by an NBC summer radio series that challenged listeners to come up with a daring ending.
Interestingly, despite all the submitted endings, the writers came up with their own conclusion.
This screenplay may have inspired the plot of another slick pre-code drama, BABY FACE, starring Barbara Stanwyck, only her devious character lives. Special nod to Sam Hardy as Cortez's winking, gun toting side-kick and veteran Pauline Frederick as the cold as ice lady of the house.
Looks as though the ending was filmed at Malibu, and beautiful as ever. If only it was in color!
This is as good as it gets, now on dvd for all us spook busters!