Search - Mystery Liner on DVD

Creaky Early Sci-Fi Thriller

Laughing Gravy | Sacramento, CA United States | 11/14/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Edgar Wallace was such a prolific and popular author (at one time, it was claimed that one out of every four books sold in Britain were Wallace thrillers) that frequently his name was attached to projects that bore little or no resemblance to his stories. This is the case with MYSTERY LINER, directed by William Nigh and released by Monogram in 1934.

Whereas Wallace's story "The Ghost of John Holling" dealt with murder and the theft of jewels, both of which are blamed on a vengeful ghost aboard a trans-Atlantic ship, the story our friends at Monogram came up with is a science-fiction tale about a new element, S-505, that powers a machine that can create a fleet of remote-controlled ships ("Radio controlled battleships and submarines would have won the World War in the first year! Its future possibilities are inconceivable if it succeeds!" one breathless officer tells us). Obviously, an agent of a foreign power is after that li'l bitty tube of S-505. His or her first step is removing the Captain (a sadly underused Noah Beery) by making the good Cap'n appear to be insane. Once Noah is shipped off to the booby hatch, the experiment with the remote control device (brilliantly portrayed in a subtle but show-stopping performance by the electrical equipment from FRANKENSTEIN) can continue. Only the Cap'n has escaped from said booby hatch, booby hatches not being what they were at one time, and may be responsible for some attacks onboard the ship, aiming to halt the experiment. But wait! There's also a secret agent on board, looking to halt the secret foreign agent villain. Who is whom? Is it the attractive nurse (Astrid Allwyn, who is way too pretty for a movie like this)? Major Pope (great name!), the head of the steamship line? The two ship's officers who have the hots for the pretty nurse? The drunken old lady (Zeffie Tilbury, well remembered as the roller-skating Granny in the Our Gang film SECOND CHILDHOOD and for stints in Laurel"

Alpha a ok

E. E. Kuersten | East Village, NY United States | 04/19/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're like me you are always wary about Alpha DVDs, sometimes they are good, sometimes not. This one is good, the image is crisp and clear and it's a rare old chestnut, so make the move."

SCI-FI!!!!!

larryj1 | AZ, USA | 05/21/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Another entertaining Monogram early sci-fi drama. The Alpha DVD is actually quite good on this film. Although I would still highly recommend the Roan version instead(it's on a double-bill with Human Monster)."