House of Danger

Mild thriller of business partners (Stevens and Rush) who after becoming shipwrecked agree to swap identities in order to catch the killer of Rush's father, when he sends Stevens home in his place after ten years abroad. Complicating matters is the childhood sweetheart (Chandler) with whom both men are enamoured.

Lang is the most assured of the cast, as the family's wily counsel; a leering gaze at a swimsuit beauty (Linden) - "I never strain my eyes enjoying nature" - cements his two-toned characterisation, but it's Stevens in the lead role that carries the picture. He's measured in his nervous reluctance to pull off the ruse, recognising the character's frailties and concerns for his safety while trying to uncover a conspiracy and corner a cold-blooded murderer.

Despite an elaborate plot, the climax and conclusion seem rushed and out of tempo, as if they were almost improvised to meet budget or schedule. Notwithstanding, the dialogue is delivered with a natural ease while the sets and exteriors add a little more texture than usual for its vintage. At 64 minutes short, it's not great, but it's not bad.

I agree with the others who posted about this movie. It is very enjoyable. The DVD I have was made from a pretty bad print but I still made it through and appreciated the film very much. Onslow Stevens was quite a leading man back then. I agree that he could be just as effective today with his laid back acting style. The actress who played Sylvia was very, very beautiful. She and Stevens had great chemistry. I also liked the older actors, especially Howard Lang. There is a very funny bit where he and the older female character are swapping barbs about the old man's fondness for the eye candy at the pool. The entire pool scene was a blast, especially since we get to see Sylvia in a rather revealing swimsuit (along with some other vintage beauties)

There really isn't a lot of mystery here as we know who the bad guys are right away. However, the best and most effective plot device is the love at first sight between the two leads, one of whom is simply pretending to be the girl's long lost love. This really works great and leads me to believe that this film might work very well as a remake (This has Hallmark channel written all over it) I really liked it, a fine old film with a great cast that was fun to watch. According to this website, the actor who played Martin has no other film credits. He was pretty darn good in this, his only role!

After ten years sailing the South Sea islands, hair-twisting James Bush (as Ralph Nelson) and chum Onslow Stevens (as Don Phillips) and are on their way to Mr. Bush's home. Bush wants Mr. Stevens to help him put his recently inherited estate in order. Also, Bush is planning to marry long-waiting fiancée Janet Chandler (as Sylvia Evans). Unhappily, a boating accident derails Bush; so, instead, Stevens arrives at the estate, impersonating "Ralph Nelson". Soon, Stevens is investigating the mysterious death of Bush's father, falling in hove with Ms. Chandler, and facing danger… The film is very good, for a low-budget mystery. Stevens is especially noteworthy; his worth as a leading man is highly evident, even in this relatively inferior production.

****** House of Danger (11/10/34) Charles Hutchison ~ Onslow Stevens, Janet Chandler, James Bush

1934's "House of Danger" was an independent production from the short-lived Peerless Pictures Corporation (8 titles overall, from 1931-36), toplining Universal contractee Onslow Stevens in the central role of Don Phillips, who impersonates his friend Ralph Nelson (James Bush) so as to uncover the truth behind the murder of Ralph's father. While the plot doesn't really stand up, Stevens is well cast, carrying the film with ease, with lovely Janet Chandler displaying her feminine form in a gorgeous one-piece bathing suit. At Universal, Stevens had done "Secret of the Blue Room," "Bombay Mail," "The Crosby Case," "Life Returns," and (especially) "House of Dracula"; for others, there were "The Monster and the Girl," "The Creeper," "Mark of the Gorilla," "The Couch" (his last film, from 1962), and the 1954 classic "Them!" Director Charles Hutchison was a veteran actor going back 20 years, turning increasingly to directing as the silent era wound down (as director, his final credit came in 1938, as an actor, 1944; he died in 1949).

James Bush has been in the South Seas for a decade, ever since he quarreled with his father. But word comes the old man is dead, and Bush will collect the pile. He's not concerned about the money, but he is worried about Janet Chandler, and whether she will be cheated out of her rightful share; they pledged their troth before he left, and she and he have been corresponding since. So Bush starts back, along with best friend Onslow Stevens. There a shipwreck, and Bush is laid up, so he sends Stevens on ahead, with instruction to see that everything is on the up-and-up. He discovers there is some plot between his cousin, John Andrews, and the butler, Desmond Roberts. Also, he falls in love with Miss Chandler.

Yes, the butler did it, or part of it, and plans to keep on doing it. That doesn't disturb me, but Stevens is compelled to act in such a suspicious manner to indicate how flustered he is that it's a miracle that none of the characters except for Howard Lang's keen-eyed family lawyer notice anything odd.

It's not a terrible story, and everyone does a competent job of acting, even if all the threads are tied up so very quickly and neatly at the very end.