House of Danger

A pleasant surprise! A lot of these post silent,early talkies are very creaky by today's standards, with overwrought performances from actors still used to the histrionics of the silent films. But here is a nice understated turn from Onslow Stevens as the hero, a quiet and dignified acting job which wouldn't be out of place in a modern film.

Doubling for an injured friend he returns to investigate the death of the friend's father. It is a take on 'the old dark house' plot, even if a lot of the action takes place during the day! To complicate things, he falls in love his friend's fiancé who isn't aware he isn't her intended. The villains are pretty obvious from the start but at a 62 minute running time, it passes the time quickly and doesn't outstay it's welcome.

No classic by any means but still enjoyable if only for Onslow Stevens fine acting job on this one.

After ten years sailing the South Sea islands, hair-twisting James Bush (as Ralph Nelson) and chum Onslow Stevens (as Don Phillips) and are on their way to Mr. Bush's home. Bush wants Mr. Stevens to help him put his recently inherited estate in order. Also, Bush is planning to marry long-waiting fiancée Janet Chandler (as Sylvia Evans). Unhappily, a boating accident derails Bush; so, instead, Stevens arrives at the estate, impersonating "Ralph Nelson". Soon, Stevens is investigating the mysterious death of Bush's father, falling in hove with Ms. Chandler, and facing danger… The film is very good, for a low-budget mystery. Stevens is especially noteworthy; his worth as a leading man is highly evident, even in this relatively inferior production.

****** House of Danger (11/10/34) Charles Hutchison ~ Onslow Stevens, Janet Chandler, James Bush

1934's "House of Danger" was an independent production from the short-lived Peerless Pictures Corporation (8 titles overall, from 1931-36), toplining Universal contractee Onslow Stevens in the central role of Don Phillips, who impersonates his friend Ralph Nelson (James Bush) so as to uncover the truth behind the murder of Ralph's father. While the plot doesn't really stand up, Stevens is well cast, carrying the film with ease, with lovely Janet Chandler displaying her feminine form in a gorgeous one-piece bathing suit. At Universal, Stevens had done "Secret of the Blue Room," "Bombay Mail," "The Crosby Case," "Life Returns," and (especially) "House of Dracula"; for others, there were "The Monster and the Girl," "The Creeper," "Mark of the Gorilla," "The Couch" (his last film, from 1962), and the 1954 classic "Them!" Director Charles Hutchison was a veteran actor going back 20 years, turning increasingly to directing as the silent era wound down (as director, his final credit came in 1938, as an actor, 1944; he died in 1949).

James Bush has been in the South Seas for a decade, ever since he quarreled with his father. But word comes the old man is dead, and Bush will collect the pile. He's not concerned about the money, but he is worried about Janet Chandler, and whether she will be cheated out of her rightful share; they pledged their troth before he left, and she and he have been corresponding since. So Bush starts back, along with best friend Onslow Stevens. There a shipwreck, and Bush is laid up, so he sends Stevens on ahead, with instruction to see that everything is on the up-and-up. He discovers there is some plot between his cousin, John Andrews, and the butler, Desmond Roberts. Also, he falls in love with Miss Chandler.

Yes, the butler did it, or part of it, and plans to keep on doing it. That doesn't disturb me, but Stevens is compelled to act in such a suspicious manner to indicate how flustered he is that it's a miracle that none of the characters except for Howard Lang's keen-eyed family lawyer notice anything odd.

It's not a terrible story, and everyone does a competent job of acting, even if all the threads are tied up so very quickly and neatly at the very end.

I agree with the others who posted about this movie. It is very enjoyable. The DVD I have was made from a pretty bad print but I still made it through and appreciated the film very much. Onslow Stevens was quite a leading man back then. I agree that he could be just as effective today with his laid back acting style. The actress who played Sylvia was very, very beautiful. She and Stevens had great chemistry. I also liked the older actors, especially Howard Lang. There is a very funny bit where he and the older female character are swapping barbs about the old man's fondness for the eye candy at the pool. The entire pool scene was a blast, especially since we get to see Sylvia in a rather revealing swimsuit (along with some other vintage beauties)

There really isn't a lot of mystery here as we know who the bad guys are right away. However, the best and most effective plot device is the love at first sight between the two leads, one of whom is simply pretending to be the girl's long lost love. This really works great and leads me to believe that this film might work very well as a remake (This has Hallmark channel written all over it) I really liked it, a fine old film with a great cast that was fun to watch. According to this website, the actor who played Martin has no other film credits. He was pretty darn good in this, his only role!