View Single Post
  #4031  
Old 07-01-2020, 01:11 AM
FryeDwight FryeDwight is offline
Evil Dead
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 2,855
MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (1932). Michael Curtiz film made around the same time as the better DOCTOR X also has Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray. >>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOLIERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> .

MOTWM is Pre-Code, so gritty throughout with Drug Addiction, Bootlegging, Racism, Police Brutality towards a "Junkie" and a quite effective scare towards the end; apparently Fay had no idea what she would see, so her shriek is genuine. Lionel's character reminds Me a lot of The Phantom of the Opera; dangerous and hideous, but through no fault of his own and despite the antisocial slant of his activities, You still feel for Him.

Sadly, one cannot say the same for Glenda Farrell's Hardboiled Wisecracking reporter who, much like Lee Tracy in DX, seriously puts a damper on enjoying this. Her annoying character is in here far too much and You will be disgusted by the end. Worth seeing for the historical aspect, but HOUSE OF WAX is much more rewarding viewing. **
Reply With Quote