Search - The House of Mystery on DVD

The House of Mystery is a very good film

Dancing Ganesha | Bangalore, India | 10/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I loved this film. It had everything a good mystery should have. The pace of the film was also very good, I didn't find it boring or outdated, even though this is quite an old film. I thought it had its funny moments too, especially the older woman and her "absent-minded professor" husband. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys films of the "Clue" variety, although this one is much better than that."

Another two week shoot, another gorilla suit

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 03/12/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"ALPHA VIDEO is the dba of a Pennsylvania-based outfit called GOTHAM. They specialize in niche market material, mostly vintage programmers and public domain stuff. Quality of their unrestored movie transfers varies from fair to good, based on condition of film stock and source material (often old 16mm broadcast prints). The only extras provided are a catalog insert and DVD-accessible title list.





Although artwork indicates this film is called THE House of Mystery, that's a 1938 Jack Holt movie. This one (according to imdb) is HOUSE OF MYSTERY (1934).



If you like guys in fakey gorilla costumes, have I got a movie for you!



In a somewhat comedic programmer, an American archaeologist (Clay Clement) kills a consecrated monkey while visiting India. Twenty years later, the curse of a temple priest (Brandon Hurst) plus the aforementioned "gorilla" bring grief to him and some investors. They want their share of jewels the monkey-killer stole before returning home. Hearing that others who received some of the precious stones died violently soon after dosen't dissuade them. They're told by the now wheelchair-bound archaeologist that they must stay in his creepy house for a week before getting anything. Thus, people start mysteriously dying.



INCIDENTALS--

In a minor role is whiskerless Gabby Hayes as a man dogged by gambling debts.



Verna Hillie (Ella) was Trentino's secretary in the Marx Bros. comedy DUCK SOUP (1933)



Ed Lowry's cinematic career is slight: two silent shorts as a youth and this early MONOGRAM programmer. Lowry's character here, 'Jack' Armstrong is not to be confused with radio's All-American Boy.



Alabaman Joyzelle Joyner (Chandra) often appeared as an exotic dancer, including in her last film, DANTE'S INFERNO (1935). Joyner's screen debut was a slave girl in BEN HUR (1925).



William Nigh directed 120 'B' grade murder-mysteries (like Mr. Wong), ghost stories, swashbucklers, and especially westerns, yet not a classic in the lot!"