THE SPHINX

US, 1933, 64 minutes, Black and white.
Lionel Atwill, Sheila Terry, Theodore Newton, Paul Hurst, Luis Alberni, Robert Ellis, Lucien Prival.
Directed by Paul Rosen.

Lionel Atwill was a British stage actor who moved to the United States, appearing in a number of films, including a star role in Captain Blood, but appearing in quite a number of small budget films, especially horror.

The Sphinx is a small supporting picture, something of a murder mystery, a police investigation, hard-talking journalist also investigating. The title is that given to a mysterious killer of a number of businessmen.

The audience knows from the beginning that the killer, Lionel Atwell, can speak, but when brought to court, he is deaf and mute, and convinces the court. He is stylish in manner, wealthy in his apartment, with his butler-associate. The police are suspicious but cannot prove anything, despite attempts, and one official noting that the killer reacted to a piano note – but the official is then murdered himself.

There is an earnest journalist, Theodore Newton, his girlfriend also works at the paper, Sheila Terry, who visits the killer, is attracted to him and continually visits.

When she plays the piano, the killer is alert – and a secret door opens with a twin brother, truly mute and deaf, is hidden away.

There is a bumptious police officer, Paul Hurst, rather ignorant and silly in his way who touches the piano and opens the mysterious door – since this is a short film, there is immediate shooting and the twin brother is killed. The killer remains debonair in manner as he is taken off under arrest.

An enjoyable hour of entertainment, old style.