For once John Miljan is playing a good guy, a detective who is now writing his memoirs, instead of the slippery villains he often played.
Detective Holt is invited to a party by daffy Muriel (Iris Adrian) - "we're going to go places and drink things!!!" Muriel, who is married, is a bit of a troublemaker and spreads a rumour that she is planning to run off with Tommy (Barry Norton), as soon as she is divorced from his brother Harry. Harry (James Eagles), unbeknownst to everyone, has escaped from the mental institution to which he has been confined.
"I'll come with you" - "No Tommy, telephoning for Jamaica rum is a woman's work!!" When Gus Colleti (Noel Madison) comes with the booze, it is clear Muriel and Gus have some unfinished business involving letters and canceled cheques. Holt has to intervene and make Gus behave like a gentleman. Muriel (who has been the life of the movie, although I would definitely not compare her to Louise Brooks!!!) suddenly feels tired and goes to bed. She never recovers!!! Before long 2 other murders occur - Tommy's brother, Harry is shot by the butler, who seeing him on the roof mistakes him for a burglar. Jane (Irene Ware), who has caught the eye of Holt, comes across the body of Campbell Snowden (Harry Holman), then Holt discovers Muriel's body in bed. All clues point to Harry Randel as the killer but Jane is convinced someone else is the killer and is trying to blacken Harry's name. Holt decides to investigate. He goes to the hospital and finds Harry had a visitor before his escape - Jane, who just happens to be his ex-fiancé. Also the confession he made before his death turns out to be a confession about killing a dog!!
Everything falls into place in this enjoyable murder mystery. As usual with these little gems, the supporting cast is sometimes more interesting than the film itself. Betty Blythe, who shot to fame as the Queen of Sheba, plays Ann Randel, and looks pretty good for her age. Barry Norton, who briefly found fame in "4 Devils" and "Sins of the Fathers" (both in 1928) before talkies revealed his very thick accent - he plays Tom Randel. Noel Madison mostly played gangsters and low lifes but on stage he played sophisticated socialites - he plays Gus.
Recommended.
Detective Holt is invited to a party by daffy Muriel (Iris Adrian) - "we're going to go places and drink things!!!" Muriel, who is married, is a bit of a troublemaker and spreads a rumour that she is planning to run off with Tommy (Barry Norton), as soon as she is divorced from his brother Harry. Harry (James Eagles), unbeknownst to everyone, has escaped from the mental institution to which he has been confined.
"I'll come with you" - "No Tommy, telephoning for Jamaica rum is a woman's work!!" When Gus Colleti (Noel Madison) comes with the booze, it is clear Muriel and Gus have some unfinished business involving letters and canceled cheques. Holt has to intervene and make Gus behave like a gentleman. Muriel (who has been the life of the movie, although I would definitely not compare her to Louise Brooks!!!) suddenly feels tired and goes to bed. She never recovers!!! Before long 2 other murders occur - Tommy's brother, Harry is shot by the butler, who seeing him on the roof mistakes him for a burglar. Jane (Irene Ware), who has caught the eye of Holt, comes across the body of Campbell Snowden (Harry Holman), then Holt discovers Muriel's body in bed. All clues point to Harry Randel as the killer but Jane is convinced someone else is the killer and is trying to blacken Harry's name. Holt decides to investigate. He goes to the hospital and finds Harry had a visitor before his escape - Jane, who just happens to be his ex-fiancé. Also the confession he made before his death turns out to be a confession about killing a dog!!
Everything falls into place in this enjoyable murder mystery. As usual with these little gems, the supporting cast is sometimes more interesting than the film itself. Betty Blythe, who shot to fame as the Queen of Sheba, plays Ann Randel, and looks pretty good for her age. Barry Norton, who briefly found fame in "4 Devils" and "Sins of the Fathers" (both in 1928) before talkies revealed his very thick accent - he plays Tom Randel. Noel Madison mostly played gangsters and low lifes but on stage he played sophisticated socialites - he plays Gus.
Recommended.