The House of Secrets

1936's "The House of Secrets" has an interesting story and excellent cast, but unwinds in maddening fashion. Liverpool-born Leslie Fenton ("The Public Enemy") stars as an American in England, who finds his own inherited mansion already occupied by strangers armed with guns. Occasionally we hear wild screams, and there's rumored to be buried treasure, livened up by strong performers such as Sidney Blackmer, Morgan Wallace, Holmes Herbert, and perennial gangster Noel Madison. Love interest is supplied by the comely Muriel Evans, whose career in features never surpassed her extensive career in Hal Roach comedy shorts, working with Laurel and Hardy, Grady Sutton, and especially Charlie Chase (retiring by 1940, she died in 2000). Leslie Fenton had four more acting roles ahead, switching to directing in 1938, piling up an impressive total of 20 features by 1951 (he died in 1978). This was virtually the last gasp for Chesterfield Pictures, an independent outfit responsible for over 100 features over its 11 year lifespan.

Sailing from the United States to London, chivalrous Leslie Fenton (as Barry Wilding) saves pretty Muriel Evans (as Julie Kenmore) from the advances of brutish Matty Kemp. The lady is grateful, but rejects Mr. Fenton's more mannered advances. After debarking, Fenton learns he has inherited a deceased uncle's estate. But, when he visits his mansion, Fenton is chased off the property, by interloping inhabitants. Surprisingly, Ms. Evans (the woman he saved on the ship) is among the uninvited tenants. During the running time, you go from wondering what's happening in "The House of Secrets", to indifference. Fenton and a good cast, including pal Sidney Blackmer (as Tom Starr), try to keep it simmering.

**** The House of Secrets (10/28/36) Roland D. Reed ~ Leslie Fenton, Muriel Evans, Sidney Blackmer

Based on one of the stories by Sydney Horler, this one takes a while to get going. Twelve minutes in, and we finally figure out what's going on.... there's something shady going on at this estate, and the rightful owner is run off "his own property", according to him, Barry Wilding (Leslie Fenton). He bumps into Julie (Muriel Evans), who warns Barry against confronting the squatters at the estate. All so mysterious. The only name I recognize in here is Sidney Blackmer, who had appeared in so many films. so just WHAT is going on at that estate? the rightful owner is SO patient.... letting people live there, and do whatever the heck they are doing! meh. skip this one. who cares. showing on moonlight movies channel. yawn....

Likable cad Fenton stars as an affable, assertive gent who inherits a mansion following the death of a distant uncle. When he attempts to take possession of the mansion, he discovers a group of shady characters occupying the house, including a sultry beauty (Evans) with whom he had a bizarre encounter on the ship across the Atlantic. Along with his detective pal (Blackmer), the pair soon discovers that there's more than meets the eye to the supposedly haunted house, its strange occupancy (a raving lunatic) and a gang of murderous thieves converging on an alleged hidden treasure.

It's all happening at a brisk pace, with fast-talking Fenton quite a gregarious chap, Evans an attractive and mysterious vice, while in my opinion, Blackmer was the best performer, displaying a professionalism and ease that made him a bankable talent for six decades in a long and illustrious career.

While the conclusion is a little hackneyed, there's some effort gone into the neatly woven plot, with all loose ends tying together, albeit a little conveniently. It's the strength of the three leads (Fenton, Evans and Blackmer) that elevates this run-of-the-mill tale to average status.

The House of Secrets starts with an intriguing shipboard encounter: Leslie Fenton (as Barry) assists Muriel Evans (Julie) escape the unwanted attentions of a stranger. She thanks him nicely—but when he attempts to take a look in her handbag for whatever it was the stranger was after, she—get this—throws the whole bag overboard rather than let him see its contents! Hmm, mysterious.

Not surprisingly, they soon meet again (in a major but not shocking coincidence, she happens to be living at the large estate he has just inherited), and she becomes one of numerous characters determinedly resisting Barry's attempts not only to enter his own property, but to find out what the heck is going on. These characters include practically everyone else in the story—his detective friend, Julie's scientist father, some police and government officials, and a gang of crooks after a hidden treasure.

The plot is fast-moving and fairly intricate, and the dialog is mostly sharp. However, as the story progresses, frustration builds—not only for Barry but for us viewers, who also have no idea why everyone is trying so hard to keep him in the dark. By late in the film, my own sympathies had shifted almost entirely over to the gang of crooks, because at least they were straightforward about what they wanted, which is something you can't say about any of the other characters.

The movie also features an ancient document written in "old English," which means it has some words like "ye" and "olde" in it, that is fun for the gangsters to try and sound out. And an inn landlady offers some entertaining colloquial dialog, like her criticism of her husband's aches and pains: "He calls it rheumatism, but I calls it arthritis. I likes to keep up to date." Nothing is particularly authentic, but hey, I point that out in fun, not as a real quibble with the film. Overall, the dialog is one of this film's quite interesting qualities.

Overall: well done—but maddening.