The Phantom

I really enjoy classic horror, even the poverty row productions. This one, though,was tough to get through.

I agree with others who have said the acting is poor. They're also not well-rehearsed; especially at the beginning the actors are stepping on each others' lines.

I also have a problem with the editing. As the movie starts, it feels like we're cutting between three movies: a prison, the top of a train, and a helicopter. It becomes clear in a few how they connect, but the disjointed editing continues throughout the movie, making for jarring changes between scenes... sometimes lingering too long, sometimes not giving us enough setup or wrap-up.

I knew I was taking a risk when I started it. The description made it sound more like a murder mystery / police drama, and I should have trusted my gut on this one. It's played for laughs almost all the way through which is frustrating, and even when it's not intentional the laughs occasionally come anyway: when the phantom enters a room, it's truly laughable. (Watch carefully as no one makes any attempt to get away.)

You can watch it for free on Archive Dot Org, or on Tubi... but if you're looking for another Dracula or Frankenstein... this ain't it. It doesn't compare well to the. Basil Rathbone / Nigel Bruce mysteries about a decade later, either.

For completists only!

When a dangerous killer escapes from the local gaol, police suspect he may come after the DA as retribution for his incarceration. Assigned to protect the DA (Lucas), bull-nose detective (O'Brien) settles in for a long night that ends up turning into a fracas when "The Phantom" enters the house via a secret labyrinth of ducts and concealed passages, threatening the DA's daughter (Ray) before disappearing into the night. Fortunately, novice reporter (Williams) has a hunch "The Phantom" might be heading for a local mental sanitarium leading to a terrifying encounter with the residents of the local loony-bin.

There's some mild chuckles and feint thrills in his uneven comedy-thriller, but the acting seems quite stilted at times and the tension seems to be constantly nobbled by ill-timed humour. Williams is the strongest performer as the young, assertive reporter keen to solve the mystery to earn a pay increase that will fund his ensuing matrimonials with the DA's daughter.

I found the jittery housekeeper (Knights) a tad over-bearing, her incessant shrills and dramatics becoming old very quickly, while combined with her vertically challenged boyfriend, the Chauffeur Shorty (Dunn) the pair added a touch of farce to the proceedings that I felt were unnecessary diversions (perhaps padding). Nevertheless, it's coherent and at barely one hour in duration, nothing if not efficient.

This is another movie that I had never heard until I was working my way through the horror movie releases from 1931 from Letterboxd. This one intrigued me with the title as it reminded me of the hero serial/film that came out. I did read the synopsis to this one before seeing it as I was trying to find something to pair up. It doesn't make the greatest double feature for my Odyssey through the Ones, but it will work. The synopsis I'm referring to is a group of people are stalked by a masked killer in an old mansion.

We start this movie off in a prison. It appears that a criminal going by the nickname of The Phantom (Sheldon Lewis) is to be executed that day. The warden is talking to a reporter about this and they're alerted a plane is flying low over the building again. We then see The Phantom scales the wall, jumps to a train and the plane picks him up to make his escape.

The Phantom then sends a warning to the district attorney, John Hampton (Wilfred Lucas). He wants to meet him at his house that night to kill him. John agrees and the police are going to send men over. A police sergeant of Pat Collins (Tom O'Brien) is the one assigned here.

John's daughter is also alerted to this. She is a reporter for a local newspaper for the event section. Her name is Ruth (Allen Ray) and she is dating another reporter of Dick Mallory (Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams). Her boss though is in love with her, Sam Crandall (Niles Welch). He expresses how he feels and she tells him she is going to marry Dick. They are just hoping he gets a promotion, which falls on Sam. He has to decide what he will do here.

All of these people converge on John Hampton's home that night. Also included are his maid, Lucy (Violet Knights), who is jumpy and she is seeing the chauffeur, Shorty (Bobby Dunn), who is much in the same vein as her. The Phantom sneaks into the house along with another guy who makes a demand of John without introducing himself. This becomes a wild night to figure out who The Phantom really is and capture him before he kills anyone. Their search will lead him to a local asylum ran by Dr. Weldon (William Gould) and us getting to meet the odd Oscar (William Jackie).

I feel that is enough to flesh out the story this movie and get you up to speed with what type of movie we are going to get. What I will start with is that this is short. It runs just over an hour and doesn't waste any time getting into it, which is good. What I found interesting though was that I thought we were going to get an 'Old Dark House' type film and that is how it starts. We actually get 2 of them including the asylum where we have secret passages and what not which I do enjoy.

With this story here, I do think it is lacking some fleshing out of things. I like the idea of The Phantom, him escaping from prison and wanting to get revenge on the district attorney. It is interesting though is that John wasn't the DA when this case was tried, but The Phantom still blames the office. There is an interesting scene with Dick that we get early on into the night where I thought we were going to have to guess who The Phantom really is. Lewis plays the role quite creepy what I like, but the reveal is just a bit abrupt and not really shocking. It also feels a bit like a cheat as well. The movie really wants more to focus on this love triangle between Dick, Ruth and Sam, but Sam really just has to make one decision whether or not to give Dick the promotion or not. It seems they're on the right path to make a deep story, but didn't go far enough with it.

What I will say is that the acting is fine. I can see why Williams has the nickname of Big Boy as he's a tall guy. It does make it hard for us to believe that he's The Phantom though. Ray is solid as his love interest, but they don't flesh out Ruth all that much. Welch is good as the better option for Ruth despite how she feels about Dick. Sam is a solid guy for sure. Aside from that I think the rest of the cast rounded this out for what was needed. Lewis as I said was creepy as The Phantom, Knights and Dunn bring some levity to the movie which we got a lot of in this era. I really liked Jackie as Oscar as well in his limited role.

Then really aside from that, it just leaves me the cinematography, effects and soundtrack. For the former, it is fine. Being in early cinema, we are getting static shots. What I will give credit to though is the setting. Both houses are interesting with their secret passages and what not. I'm a sucker for that. This isn't really the type of movie that has effects, but I think the look of The Phantom is creepy. Oscar seems to be abnormally tall as well as slender and how he moves his body was interesting. Then really the soundtrack fit for what was needed. It didn't stand out or hurt the movie for me.

This there really isn't a whole lot to delve into this movie that is where I'm going to leave it. I do think that we have some interesting set ups here, but the movie just doesn't go far enough in fleshing them out. I like the idea of this villain escaping from prison and trying to get revenge. The acting is solid enough. The setting and look of The Phantom are also bright spots. Aside from that, the movie is okay just lacking quite a bit for me to really enjoy this one. For that reason I'd say this is an average movie. There are good and bad aspects on both sides for me so I'm coming in the middle here.

I just read all of the other reviews to verify my premise, which turned out to be true. They all take the position that this movie is pretty awful on many levels. Well, sure it is since it is obviously a spoof and a send-up. Taking it seriously is a preposterous mistake of judgment. For whatever reason the director chose to go beyond all the limits and that is what gives him away. Maybe just to have fun, maybe to get even with the studio for some transgression, could have been anything. Like it or hate it as you choose but take a chill pill and recognize that your leg has been properly pulled!

I would think that for the people of 1931, this would be quite a movie. The beginning (as many have already stated), was quite exciting - even by today's standards. Then the movie drags a bit.

But my reason for writing this review is only to add that the eclectic cast is worth watching. You can see the obvious influence of the silent era in their expressions and actions/reactions.

But to me, Lucy (played by Violet Knights) almost steals the show. She seems to me a very funny actress. I hope to get to see her in something else some time. However, I suspect this is probably her crowning achievement as an actress, as she made less than ten talking pictures, and was only credited in two of them. I know her acting is overboard, but her expressions and manners are worth the watching of this movie to me. Without her, I would probably give this movie only one or two stars.

The strange Swede (William Jackie?) is also a great comic in this, his only credited role (according to IMDb).

If you like unusual characters, I think this is definitely a movie worth a watch. Don't expect a great story - as others have mentioned, the plot is a bit over-used. But the cast to me is not a disappointment.