A Strange Adventure

"A Strange Adventure" is a 1930s B-movie with a very standard plot...in fact, hundreds of similar films were made during that decade. Because of this, fans of 1930s films might just feel underwhelmed by it...a case of 'been there, done that'.

A rich guy has brought all his hated family to his home to discuss his will and sign a new one. However, as he is signing, he collapses and a knife is found plunged into his chest...yet no one seemed to see who did it. A police detective (Regis Toomey) arrives to investigate and he brings along a couple dopey cops to help. Additionally, a spunky female reporter shows up and she just happens to be the detective's girlfriend.

As I said in the summary, pretty much all the usual cliches of these sorts of movies are present. Because of this, there are very few surprises. Additionally, much of the acting and dialog are on the cheesy side. As a result, it's not a film I'd recommend unless you want a simple, no demand time-passer.

By the way, Fred 'Snowflake' Toones appears in this one as comic relief. An adult man called 'Snowflake' and his antics (mostly being afraid of everything) are a sad sign of the times...when laughing at childish black men was considered not only acceptable but fun.

Old man Wayne is about to read his will, All of the heirs are gathered. When his secretary and nephew makes a run at stealing, replacing and re-stealing a valuable gem Wayne calls the police. After the police arrive Wayne tells them to wait while he goes to tell the heirs just what he thinks of them. However before that can happen the old man keels over and dies. When he's lifted up a knife is sticking in his chest. More police are called and a detective (soon to be aided by a smart mouth reporter) tries to solve the crime. Good mystery is hampered by the lack of music (this was 1932 and many independent producers didn't use it) this movie is a slow go for the first half. Once things get moving its a good ride to the end with almost all of the suspects coming under suspicion and the sudden appearance of a dark robed figure trying to kill off the heirs. As the story progresses and more murders occur there are a couple of nice pre-code touches as we rather graphic hanging as well the the graphic end of the killer. Worth a look if you run across it.

Wayne Murder Case aka A Strange Adventure (1932)

However, his secretary has anticipated the reading and already switched the soon-to-be inherited diamond with a paste substitute. Silas (William V. Mong) is not that dumb and has sent for the police.

He still goes forward with the reading of his will, surrounded by relatives, associates, and the police. They all give him dirty looks and if looks could kill... Just before he signs the will Silas keels over. Everyone closes in with genuine concern that he is still alive.

Detective-Sergeant Mitchell (Regis Toomey) is assigned the case. And who should stick her nose in but a newspaper gal 'Nosey' Toodles (June Clyde)? She is determined to be the first to discover who dispatched Silas.

If you ask me there seems to be something going on between the two.

One of my favorite scenes is where the servant Jeff (Fred 'Snowflake' Toones) is confronted by a phantom waving its arms.

Another plus is that all the actors are displayed with their real names, instead of just a bunch of disembodies names scrolling on the screen.

They also hurried the story or this could have been an excellent case.

This movie, known also as "Wayne Murder Case" is a typical drawing room murder mystery. A rich old man is sickly and dying, and before his death he decides to have a reading of his will to his family members. As he is about to read the will, in a room full of family members and police, he is murdered, but who did it? This film is a typical old dark house murder mystery, with Regis Toomey playing the lead detective. June Clyde plays the nosy reporter who will do anything to get the story. Dwight Frye has a very small role as a family member. Look for a degrading role played by Snowflake, of a black manservant.

This film was made in 1932 and is in the public domain and as such can be found on VHS and DVD.

So this film was made on Poverty Row, where actors went to make a quick buck when the big studios weren't underpaying them. The only thing that makes this film memorable compared to the dozens of others with more or less the same plot is the inclusion of Dwight Frye of Renfeild fame as one of the relatives.

An angry old man gathers his relatives for the reading of his will, after dissing many of them, he has a fainting spell and is found with a bad case of a dagger to the heart.

The rest of the movie is a detective and reporter romantic couple trying to unravel the case. It also includes a not-so-fun racist stereotype of the easily frightened black domestic employee... because that stuff was funny to people in the 1930's.

Like many of these early 1930's films, there's no music (they hadn't figured that out yet) and the blocking of the movie was more like a stage play.