Even this implied licence to thrill went too far for some, with the result that a dispiriting number of horror films of this time are actually horror-comedies…and if you think the Odious Comic Reliefs of today are unbearable, you should meet the ancestors! Throughout the silent years, film fans looking for chills were forced to choose between the physical horror of Lon Chaney’s macabre but real-world-based thrillers, such as The Unknown historical horrors, such as The Man Who Laughs or – Chaney again – The Hunchback Of Notre Dame or the pseudo-horrors, in which terrifying events either turned out to be “all a dream”, or were dismissed at last with that bane of all horror fans, a rational explanation. The officers learn that under this will, half of Cavendar’s enormous fortune is to be divided amongst them…and consequently, that each of them has motive for murder…Ĭomments: Although European audiences had from the beginning embraced films dealing with the supernatural – and although those films, when shown in the United States, had upon the whole been successful – it would be the sound era before the horror film, as such, established itself in Hollywood. Moments later, another stranger arrives: Abdul Mohammed Bey (Boris Karloff), a lawyer, who brings with him a copy of the Marquis’s will. Recovering, the woman reveals that she is the Lady Efra Cavendar (Dorothy Sebastian), daughter to the late Marquis of Cavendar, who years earlier was drummed out of the regiment in disgrace. She demands to know which officer is Lord Montague and, when Montague identifies himself, promptly faints in his arms. Even as the others react to this in outrage, an hysterical woman forces her way into the room.
He also points out that since the house was guarded by his men, Mallory’s murderer must already be amongst them. Rumsey then tells the others that the officers of their regiment are being systematically murdered. Montague rushes ahead to greet his friend with a slap on the shoulder-only to have him slump to the floor… Dr Ballou pronounces Mallory dead, and adds that there are marks upon his throat. The officers carry their punch upstairs, where they hear of Mallory’s presence. Meanwhile, Mallory arrives: he declines to join the others. Finding that he has not the heart to tell them the grim truth, Montague encourages them to join him in the kitchen, where together they prepare a bowl of punch. Unaware of the danger that threatens them, the officers greet Montague warmly. Eight of the nine remaining officers of Montague’s regiment arrive the latecomer is Major Mallory (John Miljan), who was horribly disfigured by shrapnel during the war and has been suffering the effects of shell-shock since. After the séance has broken up, Sir James explains the situation to Ballou and Violet, telling the doctor that his experience in mental illness may prove a valuable asset. Sir James also recognises Dr Richard Ballou (Ernest Torrence), Violet’s fiancé. They find that a séance is under way, arranged by Lord Montague’s sister, Lady Violet (Natalie Moorhead), and conducted by the Chinese medium Lee Han (Kamiyama Sōjin), who Lewis knows has a criminal past.
Arriving there, Rumsey and his subordinate, Inspector Lewis (Clarence Geldart), are startled by a scream. Rumsey decides that the rest of the officers must be gathered together for their own protection, and agrees to have them assembled at Montague’s London house. Upon seeing the victims’ names, Montague cries out in horror that he knew them all that they were all officers in his regiment. Rumsey informs him that the attack upon him was the fifth of the same kind that day-and that the other four victims are dead. At Scotland Yard, a shaken Montague tells his story to Sir James Rumsey (Claude Fleming). The fog parts momentarily, a woman screams…and Montague escapes with his life. While walking to his club, Lord Montague (Roland Young) is suddenly caught about the throat by a garrotte. Synopsis: Under the cover of one of the worst fogs in its history, London experiences a wave of violence. Screenplay: Edwin Justus Mayer and Dorothy Farnum, based upon a story by Ben Hecht
Starring: Roland Young, Claude Fleming, Ernest Torrence, Dorothy Sebastian, Natalie Moorhead, John Miljan, Richard Tucker, John Loder, Clarence Geldart, Boris Karloff, Kamiyama Sōjin “Then, if the living fail us-we must call upon the dead!” “I am afraid he has taken his secret where the living will never trace it.”
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