ONE FRIGHTENED NIGHT

US, 1935, 66 minutes, Black and white.
Charlie Grapewin, Mary Carlisle, Arthur Hohl, Wallace Ford, Lucien Littlefield, Regis Toomey, Hedda Hopper, Clarence Wilson, Evalyn Knapp, Rafaela Ottiano, Fred Kelsey.
Directed by Christy Cabanne.

There have been a lot of films about old mansions, storms, old dark houses. And there is often a murder – and there is often a will. This is a rather brighter version of that kind of story.

There is a storm. A tree falls on the power lines. There is a blackout. However, everything else is played in the light.

Charlie Grapewin portrays a cantankerous (to put it mildly) old codger who decides to announce how he is leaving his money and has gathered his relatives and associates together for a dinner. The only difficulty for those inheriting would be for his long-lost granddaughter to turn up. After the group, which includes gossip writer Hedda Hopper and up-and-coming star, Regis Toomey as a playboy, have decided how they would use the money, a lawyer turns up with the granddaughter.

Actually, there are two granddaughters. Another claimant arrives, a theatrical performer, who comes with her partner, a magician, played by Wallace Ford, here called Wally Ford. He gets into all kinds of tangles as he performs his tricks with the various people – and the ending gives him a comeuppance!

Then the first claimant suddenly dies, poisoned.

There is a lot of to-ing and fro-ing as regards who might have done this – and it emerges that it is the doctor who was in league with the pseudo-claimant. Actually, he defends himself with great stability and goes with the sheriff with rather more dignity than might have been expected of this kind of murderer.

Some good characterisations, quite a lot of verve thanks to Wallace Ford, a pleasing variation on the theme.