Death from a Distance

Routine whodunit distinguished by unusual setting-- an observatory with a big window on the stars. So who shot Dr.Stone while a gallery of spectators sat entranced by a ceiling of stellar lights. Detective Mallory is doing his best to find out, but it's all rather puzzling with no apparent motive. Then too, comedy relief from Det. Regan's no help, while feisty girl journalist Palmer wants a scoop no matter what. So how will it all turn out, which amounts to the "why" as much as the "who".

Too bad actress Lane doesn't get more screentime. She's a lively presence that picks up the often bland proceedings. In fact, her snappy lines aimed at Mallory remain a highlight. Then too, Prof. Einfeld and fumbling flunkie Jim lend some color to an otherwise rather bland male cast. Unfortunately, director Strayer adds nothing in the way of atmosphere, usually an important element in a whodunit. Here it would have been easy given the exotic setting. At the same time, few scenes take place outside the observatory. I wish that crucial setting were credited by IMDB. Looks to me like the giant telescope had to be real, and my guess would be Mt. Palomar Observatory also located in southern California.

Anyway, the novel touches remain about the only reason to catch up with this uneven indie production.

Yes, this is an absolute alien mystery thriller, the over the best of bland director Frank Strayer, whose films are not that widely known and even less shown. VAMPIRE BAT was rather famous for thirties horror films buffs, but that's all. Some of talkies Strayer's movies are in the public domain now, in terms of copyrights elements, even available on some DVD retailers but I am sure no one watches them. This one is a mystery, as I have told, yarn, as there there thousands of them in those decades, before TV industry takes it for its own purpose. I am not a great fan of those most of the time boring plots, but this one is very amusing, intriguing, unusual.

During a lecture at a planetarium one of the people in the audience is killed. The police are called and with the help of, or possibly despite the interference of a female reporter the killer is eventually unmasked.

If nothing else this film has a unique location which is played up a great deal as the film milks it for all its worth. What is worth is plenty since this is a snappy mystery with great dialog and a decent mystery. The acting is good and the cast is made up of troopers who you've probably seen in countless other films.

This is one of those movie that's worth seeking out and worth buying. Alpha Video is putting it out shortly in a cheap edition and I'll be picking up copies for friends who like the really good mysteries. Keep an eye on Amazon, you won't be disappointed.

Marred on a DVD transfer by a poor soundtrack that makes some dialogue unintelligible, "Death from a Distance" is a 1935 B crime story that has some good acting along with the inevitable cliches that reflect the times.

A doctor is shot to death during a planetarium lecture. The killer is in the room and the audience is there when the cops arrive, a wisecracking homicide lieutenant in charge. A pretty gal reporter tangles with the cop and her investigative skills are equal to her blatant flirting.

In 71 minutes the story moves by small leaps and not great bounds to a clever uncovering of the killer. Some potted astronomical theory is central to solving the case.

Every stereotype from that era is present: smart detective and dumb as dishwater detective, hardboiled city room editor and ambitious female reporter, gentle Viennese scientist and the "Hindu," a man with a past. And there's more.

This movie won't make either the AMC or TCM channels, not in a century of retrospectives. It's available for as little as $5.99 and as a glance backwards into the time when the Hollywood studio giants co-existed with producers of second-rate features, "Death from a Distance" is a minor treat. But it's a treat nonetheless.

6/10 (for its genre and period).

The sound and picture are just terrible! This badly needs a restoration, but at this point, probably unlikely. During a presentation on the night sky, someone in the audience is knocked off. Russ hopton is detective mallory, from the police, questioning everyone. Kay palmer (lola lane) is from the local rag to invest-y-gate. And of course, none of the witnesses agree on a description of the suspect. The coppers and the reporters all run in circles for a while. I call shenanigans on the story and ending. It's all too silly and unlikely.if the sound and picture quality weren't so awful, this probably would have been parodied on mystery science theater! Even the captions aren't synched up... sometimes they are ahead, and sometimes behind. The most interesting thing here is that someone's last name is "griffith".. and this came out the same year that the griffith observatory opened in los angeles! Directed by frank strayer. Story by john kraft. Hopton offed himself ten years after this film, at age 45.