House of Danger

A pleasant surprise! A lot of these post silent,early talkies are very creaky by today's standards, with overwrought performances from actors still used to the histrionics of the silent films. But here is a nice understated turn from Onslow Stevens as the hero, a quiet and dignified acting job which wouldn't be out of place in a modern film.

Doubling for an injured friend he returns to investigate the death of the friend's father. It is a take on 'the old dark house' plot, even if a lot of the action takes place during the day! To complicate things, he falls in love his friend's fiancé who isn't aware he isn't her intended. The villains are pretty obvious from the start but at a 62 minute running time, it passes the time quickly and doesn't outstay it's welcome.

No classic by any means but still enjoyable if only for Onslow Stevens fine acting job on this one.

This B-movie is from tiny Peerless Pictures. Surprisingly, it's rather good. Now I am not saying it's a 'must-see' picture, but it's better than you'd expect from a cheap B.

When the film begins, Don (Onslow Stevens) and his friend Ralph have been on a sea journey for a very long time. In fact, Ralph hasn't been home in a decade. After the boat explodes, Don arrives at Ralph's family estate and poses as Ralph. This is because apparently, some crazy family member is planning on doing Ralph in and taking the family fortune. So, Don sticks around and investigates, but there is a hitch-- Ralph's old girlfriend has fallen for Don and thinks he is Ralph!

While the plot is a bit contrived, the acting is generally good and the story works pretty well--provided you don't think too much about problems with the plot or listen to the musical interlude (yuck!). Worth seeing if you like Bs--and not a bad time-passer for the rest of the folks.

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

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.

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.