Who Killed Aunt Maggie?

Well I would have to give it a 10 because it frightened the life out of me when I saw it shortly after it came out at the Vogue Cinema, Stoke Newington, London and I had asked someone I didn't know to take me into the cinema because it was an 'A' (Adults only) film. Things were a lot safer in those days because all the men were in the services. It scared me so much I had to change seats and sit next to a couple of women for comfort but then I was only 9 at the time - it was wartime in London and were going through the bombing so my nerves were probably on edge and perhaps I would only rate it one today if I saw it again. But at 80 - what do I know? I'm no critic. Anyway perhaps children today, if they saw it, might see the film as being a bit spooky today.

I'm a fan of "Old House" movies and, when i heard about THIS one, i tried to get it for a long time.

When i finally DID, i was very disappointed. It's easy to spot the murderer, but that's not what makes it so disappointing.

This film has a top-notch cast - Eliz Paterson, Willie Best, Joyce Compton, Milton Parsons, Wendie Barrie, etc -- ALL veteran "Old House" actors. AND, a screenplay by the fantastic Stuart Palmer!

But, the movie drags on & on, with the usual "cut phone wires", "cars put out of commission", etc.....it would've benefited from some real SCARES.

It drags along, to an ending that doesn't make much sense. Don't waste your time on THIS one, unless you're a die-hard fan!

"Who Killed Aunt Maggie?" is very typical of the B-movie mystery. It takes place in a remote and spooky old house. And most of the action takes place on a dark and stormy night.

All the clichés of this type of film are used. Secret passageways, cut phone lines (so no one can call the police), disabled cars (also, so no one can fetch the police). It has three murders, disappearing corpses, a secret diary written in code, and even a black cat thrown in for good measure.

Sounds like a lot of tripe? Well it is, but it's handled with great skill by a veteran cast of character actors. Elizabeth Patterson as Aunt Maggie is wonderful. Willie Best, typecast as the terrified black butler, does a great job with his material (and he was given some pretty good lines). In fact, his comic talent does much to carry this story. Edgar Kennedy as the sheriff does his usual "slow burn" routines, Wendie Barrie is her at her best, and the staid Walter Abel is typically poker-faced. The rest of the cast does a great job as well.

It's fairly easy to figure out who the killer is, but who cares? I always enjoy watching this programmer and I recommend it to anyone who can find it! (It's not easy digging up a copy of this film). I'm a fan of B-movie spooky-house mysteries, and was delighted to see this film.

I rated it 9.