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CrimeDramaHorror

Crimes at the Dark House

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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.

Release Date : 1940-03-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : George King Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Tod Slaughter

Character Name : The False Sir Percival Glyde

Original Name : Tod Slaughter

Gender : Male

Sylvia Marriott

Character Name : Laurie Fairlie / Anne Catherick

Original Name : Sylvia Marriott

Gender : Female

Hilary Eaves

Character Name : Marion Fairlie

Original Name : Hilary Eaves

Gender : Male

Geoffrey Wardwell

Character Name : Paul Hartwright

Original Name : Geoffrey Wardwell

Gender : Male

Hay Petrie

Character Name : Dr. Isidor Fosco

Original Name : Hay Petrie

Gender : Male

Margaret Yarde

Character Name : Mrs. Bullen

Original Name : Margaret Yarde

Gender : Female

Rita Grant

Character Name : Jessica

Original Name : Rita Grant

Gender : Male

David Horne

Character Name : Frederick Fairlie

Original Name : David Horne

Gender : Male

Elsie Wagstaff

Character Name : Mrs. Catherick

Original Name : Elsie Wagstaff

Gender : Female

David Keir

Character Name : Lawyer Mr. Merriman

Original Name : David Keir

Gender : Male

Grace Arnold

Character Name : Maid

Original Name : Grace Arnold

Gender : Female

Vincent Holman

Character Name : Asylum Doctor

Original Name : Vincent Holman

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-12-04

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.