If it wasn't for the presence of this sinister-looking character actor, the Jonathan Harris of his day, I don't think I would give this film much of a recommendation outside of its atmospheric structure and some truly spooky scenes where Abbott delivers some very sinister monologues. The film has mystery writer Edward Norris investigating a particular series of crimes and certain that the person accused is innocent, eventually focusing on Abbott who is the equivalent of Clifton Webb's Waldo Lydecker in "Laura", obsessed with his neighbor Gertrude Walker who happens to be involved with Norris.
The film has two different moods, surrounding who happens to be on screen, and it's light and comical when it's Norris and Walker, but very dark and noirish when Abbott appears. His character is definitely one of the great unsung movie villains of all time, probably because this is a B movie thriller from Republic, utilizing the sound effects of a howling dog to become almost like a Val Lewton horror film. At only 51 minutes, it's easy to get through, although it's definitely one that takes a while to really get going. Republic made a ton of unsung thrillers like this, avanti garde and eerie, and once you see them, they are difficult to forget.
The film has two different moods, surrounding who happens to be on screen, and it's light and comical when it's Norris and Walker, but very dark and noirish when Abbott appears. His character is definitely one of the great unsung movie villains of all time, probably because this is a B movie thriller from Republic, utilizing the sound effects of a howling dog to become almost like a Val Lewton horror film. At only 51 minutes, it's easy to get through, although it's definitely one that takes a while to really get going. Republic made a ton of unsung thrillers like this, avanti garde and eerie, and once you see them, they are difficult to forget.