Search - The Phantom Fiend on DVD

DON'T BUY THIS...

Alec Howe | Movieworld, USA | 12/05/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This is a DVR-R disc (homemade), but that's not the problem... whoever mastered it used the wrong aspect ratio, so the film plays in widescreen format, elongating the characters' faces. Shame, because the print looks decent. And no, changing the aspect ratio on your television doesn't help matters."

Another wretched transfer

Alec Howe | Movieworld, USA | 08/11/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Don't be fooled by the cover art... This is yet another choppy, badly spliced public domain transfer. The opening credits are missing..."

Talkie remake of 'The Lodger'

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 06/23/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"THE PHANTOM FIEND (UK-1932) - Ivor Novello, Elizabeth Allan, A.W. Baskcomb, Barbara Everest, Jack Hawkins

First talking version based on the Jack the Ripper case (and "The Lodger") has Ivor Novello as a foreign musician renting a room from a British family who becomes the main suspect in a series of murders. The film is hampered by terrible sound and stilted acting. Despite these drawbacks, the last reel or so is worth the price of admission.

Welsh-born Novello is most convincing as Michel Angelo, the Hungarian violinist/composer/suspect. This superstar of early British cinema demonstrates considerable pianistic skill in this film.

Elizabeth Allan plays here Daisy Bunting, the striking beauty that Angelo falls in love with. She's best remembered in America as Mrs. Copperfield in George Cukor's THE PERSONAL HISTORY, ADVENTURES, EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION OF DAVID COPPERFIELD THE YOUNGER (1935).

Archie Baskcomb (Mr. Bunting) was in the original 1904 stage production of J.M. Barrie's PETER PAN. He had a brief movie career: 4 pictures in one year or so.

Barbara Everest (Mrs. Bunting) portrayed Bob Crachit's wife in the Sir Seymour Hicks version of SCROOGE (1935).

This is the second movie for Jack Hawkins (Joe Martin). His substantial screen resumé includes THE CRUEL SEA (1953), LAND OF THE PHAROAHS (1955), THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957), BEN-HUR (1959), LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962), ZULU (1964), LORD JIM (1965) and WATERLOO (1970)."