A Face in the Fog

Bizarre little mystery with no budget, but the story is pretty good and there are several interesting actors here at the zenith of their careers. A murderer called "the fiend" is killing show people but no one knows how they are being killed except that they are being poisoned. No one ever comes near the victims. And then there's that hunchback.

June Collyer (her last film) plays a meddlesome reporter who claims she can recognize "the fiend" because she saw his face in the fog (in a mirror). She becomes his target. Fellow reporter (Lloyd Hughes) tries to protect her, along with a ditzy photographer (Al. St. John). After there is a murder in a theater, the playwright (Lawrence Gray) pitches in to help solve the case.

St. John had been in silent films in the teens with Keaton and Arbuckle. Hughes was also a silent film start (THE LOST WORLD), and Gray was a big star in silent films and early musicals with the likes of Gloria Swanson, Marion Davies, and the Duncan Sisters.

Worth a look.

I've always been a fan of films where the killer is disguised in some way.....usually hunchbacked, a long cloak, a hat pulled down over his face, and a decided limp. That's why i LOVE this film! :)

(Other films with "disfigured murderers" are The Bat Whispers, Miss Pinkerton & the Cat & the Canary).

This film also uses a stock music track that was most noticeably used in "The Clutching Hand" serial...........viewing this film, it's difficult to believe that this film is a LATE 30's entry!!!

A weird-looking killer, known as "The Fiend" is out to murder the members of a Broadway show, with a most unusual weapon (no spoiler here!).

The lites go out, and the person is dead....they've been poisoned, but without a mark on them!

Two newpaper employees try to track 'em down (to get the scoop and the reward money for their honeymoon----they do, of course!).

Despite what the "trivia" says, this film IS NOT "LOST" !!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a copy of it, and i imagine that there are others out there somewhere.

This is a MUST SEE........IF you're lucky enuff to find it!

Norm

"A stage company cast finds themselves terrified when a bizarre killer known as 'The Fiend' targets them for death. A pair of reporters and their clumsy photographer set out to work the story of 'The Fiend' and find themselves targets as well. Just as you think our trio of heroes has the case solved, you're thrown another twist that has you wondering who the killer really is," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.

Taking "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" to Hollywood, producer Sam Katzman's lack of studio settings probably helps "A Face in the Fog" look interesting, especially toward the end (1930s traffic). The direction could be improved upon; for example, the camera angle on the fight scene is not helpful. The budget appears slight. Under the circumstances, most of the silent/talkie crossover cast perform it amiably.

**** A Face in the Fog (2/1/36) Robert F. Hill ~ Lloyd Hughes, June Collyer, Al St. John

A Face in the Fog (1936)

** (out of 4)

A masked killer known as The Fiend uses a special bullet that is guaranteed to kill his victim as well as leave his mark. Frank (Lloyd Hughes) and Jean (June Collyer) take an interest in the mystery and decide to track The Fiend down but soon they become a target.

A FACE IN THE FOG is an early producer credit for Sam Katzman who would become one of the most prolific producers in Hollywood. This Poverty Row film is certainly far from bad but at the same time there's really nothing here that sets it apart from the dozens of other "old dark house" type thrillers that were released throughout the decade. While there are a few interesting things here in the end it's pretty forgettable.

Both Collyer and Hughes are decent in their roles and they at least keep the film entertaining. Al St. John, former co-star of Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, is the comic relief friend but takes away more than he adds. At just a hour the film moves fairly quickly and as I said it's interesting enough to hold your attention. I will say that I liked the look of the killer and the opening sequence is also quite good. Still, A FACE IN THE FOG really doesn't stand out in a crowded field so it's only for die-hards of the genre.

A Face in the Fog is a very derivative 1930's mystery movie. We have many of the staples of the genre – a mysterious black cloaked villain, a bubbly and inquisitive female journalist, a cowardly comedy character, a ridiculous murder method, etc etc. So it isn't exactly breaking the mould to say the least. However, it isn't too bad as these films go either. Unlike many mystery movies of the time, this one actually remembers to include some suspenseful moments. OK, it's hardly a white knuckle ride but it does have a reasonable villain and a good enough final confrontation; while the mystery is reasonably diverting enough. And last, and by no means least, it's very short so it never really outstays its welcome. These old Poverty Row films are for the most part extremely limited and lacking, and while this one doesn't entirely break away from that generalisation, it's one of the more entertaining ones.