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Crimes at the Dark House

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5.8/10 • 15

1940-03-011h 9m

CrimeDramaHorror

In this lurid melodrama, Tod Slaughter plays a villain who murders the wealthy Sir Percival Glyde in the gold fields of Australia and assumes his identity in order to inherit Glyde's estate in England. On arriving in England, "Sir Percival" schemes to marry an heiress for her money, and, with the connivance of the cunning Dr. Isidor Fosco, embarks on a killing spree of all who suspect him to be an imposter and would get in the way of his plans to stay Lord of the Manor.

Directors
George King
Editors
Jack Harris

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Tod Slaughter

    Tod Slaughter

    The False Sir Percival Glyde

  2. Sylvia Marriott

    Sylvia Marriott

    Laurie Fairlie / Anne Catherick

  3. Hilary Eaves

    Hilary Eaves

    Marion Fairlie

  4. Geoffrey Wardwell

    Geoffrey Wardwell

    Paul Hartwright

  5. Hay Petrie

    Hay Petrie

    Dr. Isidor Fosco

  6. Margaret Yarde

    Margaret Yarde

    Mrs. Bullen

  7. Rita Grant

    Rita Grant

    Jessica

  8. David Horne

    David Horne

    Frederick Fairlie

  9. Elsie Wagstaff

    Elsie Wagstaff

    Mrs. Catherick

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Dec 4, 2023

6/10

Now you could never describe Tod Slaughter as versatile, but as a pantomime baddie-cum-cad, you'll struggle to find someone better. Sure, his style of acting probably did lend itself better to silent films, but in this rather enjoyable drama he comes across quite mischievously. We start when he kills the real "Sir Percival" in the far-flung Australian gold fields then returns to claim his family fortune. Snag? Well what he actually inherits is £15,000 worth of debt. A massive sum at the time and so an advantageous marriage is required. Up steps "Laurie" (Sylvia Marriott). Long promised to "Sir Percival", she agrees to obey her father and go through with the marriage. Now there is a fly in the ointment for our impersonator, here. Virtually nobody remembers him after his twenty year absence except one woman who claims he fathered a child with her before he left. He denies it, as does she - but that's because she calls him out. That intrigues the local keeper of the sanatorium "Dr. Fosco" (Hay Petrie) who sees an opportunity to line his own pockets. None of this bodes well for "Laurie". Can her sister "Marian" (Hilary Eaves) and friend "Paul" (Geoffrey Wardwell) manage to save her from her increasingly lecherous, murderous, husband and his venal cohort? The poster describes this as ideal for midnight theatre on a Friday night and that's about right. There's not much jeopardy, but Slaughter overdoes it nicely as he hams up his performance towards the denouement that I was slightly disappointed with. Still, I don't suppose the baddie can ever win.... Fun, this - worth a watch.

Media

  • Crimes at the Dark House poster
  • Crimes at the Dark House poster
  • Crimes at the Dark House poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
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