Le fantôme de Crestwood

1932 murder/mystery movie which takes place on a dark and stormy night (of course) and in a "country house" which looks like a castle (don't they all?). Actually this was based on a 1932 radio show which played for (I believe) 6 weeks. It ended with a murder unsolved--to find out who the killer is, you had to see this movie. It's still very easy to follow--you don't have to know the radio show to understand this.

It's lots of fun--there are plenty of suspects, film moves like lightning, has a few very scary moments (the appearances of the "phantom"), an eye-catching flashback technique and a pretty good performance by tall and very handsome Ricardo Cortez. Sometimes the age of this film shows (especially in the outdoor scenes) but, most of the time, it looks great.

This is (unfortunately) a little known film--it pops up on TCM occasionally but that's about it. If you get a chance, see it! It's incredible how this film still holds up after 70 years.

This one does not show up very often, so watch for it. It's a rather curious film directed by journeyman director J. Walter Rubens and has a cast to die for if you are an early film buff.....Ricardo Cortez, Karen Morley, H.B. Warner Pauline Frederick, Anita Louise et al.

The story revolves around a thoroughly unlikeable schemer (Karen Morley) who is a blackmailer and all around con woman. Inviting her former victims to a party she makes one last demand for money and is murdered by one of those guests.....but who? Other murders occur and general mayhem results. The murderer wears a glowing mask which adds a nice touch to the creepiness of this film The identity of the killer is fairly easy to guess but that does not take away from the film's interest. When finally cornered by Ricardo Cortez, the killer's manner of demise is rather surprising and the camera work on the death scene is quite good for the time.

This is a tidy little film that runs just over an hour. It's a keeper.

It's sad that Karen Morley had to be killed halfway through The Phantom Of Crestwood. Even though the mystery of her death is solved in the end you are left with the memory of her performance. Definitely one of Morley's best as she essays the role of a hard hearted woman who wants a life of ease and comfort.

This woman has made a habit of soaking the rich and she only aims her sights at the old and wealthy. Karen doesn't lack for chutzpah as she persuades one of her conquests banker H.B.Warner and his sister Pauline Frederick to host a nice soirée where she plans to ask Warner and three other of her male 'friends' who were indiscreet enough to leave incriminating letters enough money for the soft life in Europe. But also as it turns out Morley's sister Anita Louise will be there as the fiancé of Warner's son, Matty Kemp.

During the party Morley is killed with a dart and Morley's made sure she has a house full of suspects. An uninvited guest is Ricardo Cortez who's got a bad reputation and he has a vested interest in clearing this case up before the police get there. Seems like they'd love to hang a murder rap on him.

This is a good well plotted murder mystery and a real undiscovered gem if you're a mystery fan or a fan of Karen Morley.

Other than the presence of Ricardo Cortez, who is one of those very cool actors nobody remembers, and the beautiful Karen Morley (who died in March 2003, only a couple of months ago), Crestwood is somewhat unique as it is the finale of a popular radio program. But it may also be the first interactive mystery!

According to the opening titles, radio listeners were invited to submit their storyline for the finale in a nationwide contest, with the movie to be based on their plot.

There were disclaimers, of course, and who knows what RKO really did with the winner's script, but the film deserves a place in history for the attempt at least.

Convoluted, yes. Stiff and rather lurid, perhaps. But Crestwood is an archeological clue to the once close bond between the radio and the movie theater.

At the very least, truly an "RKO Radio Picture"!

Radio Pictures was prolific in the early days of sound, and thanks to Turner Classic Movie Channel, many can be seen.

Phantom of Crestwood's opening is a rare combination of radio in the movies: The well known announcer, Graham MacNamie, stands before an early dynamic microphone and announces the introduction of the picture with a full orchestra in the studio. This really captures what early radio stations must have been like in the early 30s.

The mystery story is well done and a delight for fans of the era. His name once a household word, Ricardo Cortez is now mostly forgotten.