Search - The House of Secrets on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1937 DVD Release: 07/22/2003 Format: DVD - Black and White SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 4 mins Studio: Alpha Video Total Copies: 1 Genres: Mystery

A young man is in danger of losing his inheritance in this muddled thriller from the waning Chesterfield Motion Picture Corp., a remake of the company's first talkie. After rescuing a pretty girl from a brute while crossing the English channel, Barry Wilding (Leslie Fenton) learns that he has inherited the large Hawk's Nest estate on the condition that he never sell the place. He also discovers that the girl, Julie Kenmore (Muriel Evans), lives on the estate along with her father (Morgan Wallace), a noted scientist. After agreeing that Julie and her father may remain on the estate for at least six months, Barry is dumbfounded when the girl prohibits him from visiting her. He does so anyway and is promptly confronted by nasty American gangster Dan Wharton (Noel Madison). What exactly is the gang lord doing at Hawk's Nest and why are the British authorities so reluctant to help the troubled heir? The answer, as Barry discovers soon enough, has something to do with a treasure hidden on the estate. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide

Leslie Fenton - Barry Wilding
Muriel Evans - Julie Fenmore
Noel Madison - Dan Wharton
Sidney Blackmer - Tom Stan
Morgan Wallace - Dr. Kenmore

Roland D. Reed's The House of Secrets (1936) is a creaky old mystery that probably wouldn't have passed muster on television in the 1950s -- in that sense, this DVD edition from Alpha is a real artifact of the very distant cinematic past. There are some familiar faces present, including Leslie Fenton, Muriel Evans, Sidney Blackmer, Holmes Herbert, and Syd Saylor, of whom Blackmer (who is very good here) -- remembered for Rosemary's Baby, made 30 years after this movie -- is probably the best-known today. The source print is very scratchy over the credits and at the reel-change points, with some damaged frames in the midst of certain reels, but it's otherwise reasonably clean if somewhat soft and over-saturated with light elsewhere. Some of the shots in normal room light are almost whited out in spots. In a way, that's a shame because one of the enjoyable aspects of watching this movie is the art deco design of some of the sets, which would be easier to appreciate with a better transfer from a better source. Alpha's routine six chapters are adequate for a fairly complex plot, and there are no bonus features. The disc opens on a simple, easy-to-use menu. Officially the running time is 64 minutes, but the movie runs closer to 69 minutes. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide