A remake of sorts of the 1926 Alfred Hitchcock film "The Lodger". Seeing this film makes you realise how good the earlier one is. Ivor Novello even repeats his role as the lodger!!!!
London is in the grip of a series of murders - "The Avenger murders". As the film opens Daisy (Elizabeth Allan) takes a call from a woman who becomes the next victim. The same night, the mysterious Mr. Angeloff (Ivor Novello) comes as a lodger to Daisy's family. His increasingly suspicious behaviour lead people to suspect him of the murders. Daisy is the only one who believes in him.
The 1926 Lodger was far superior. Being a silent film Novello's character was mysterious but you could put your own interpretation on his actions - in this version his heavy Bela Lugsi type accent make you view him with suspicion. Also there was a scene involving a locked cupboard that was not followed up ( obviously I, too, saw the short "Phantom Fiend" version). In the silent version it was found to have a map of the murderer's route and locks of a girl's hair. This was explained in a much more satisfying ending. This movie (1932) had a very over the top ending.
It was nice to see Elizabeth Allan as a modern day heroine. Once she went to America she spent most of her movie life in films like "David Copperfield" and "A Tale of Two Cities". Also in the film, Jack Hawkins, in one of his first roles, plays Daisy's persistent suitor.
London is in the grip of a series of murders - "The Avenger murders". As the film opens Daisy (Elizabeth Allan) takes a call from a woman who becomes the next victim. The same night, the mysterious Mr. Angeloff (Ivor Novello) comes as a lodger to Daisy's family. His increasingly suspicious behaviour lead people to suspect him of the murders. Daisy is the only one who believes in him.
The 1926 Lodger was far superior. Being a silent film Novello's character was mysterious but you could put your own interpretation on his actions - in this version his heavy Bela Lugsi type accent make you view him with suspicion. Also there was a scene involving a locked cupboard that was not followed up ( obviously I, too, saw the short "Phantom Fiend" version). In the silent version it was found to have a map of the murderer's route and locks of a girl's hair. This was explained in a much more satisfying ending. This movie (1932) had a very over the top ending.
It was nice to see Elizabeth Allan as a modern day heroine. Once she went to America she spent most of her movie life in films like "David Copperfield" and "A Tale of Two Cities". Also in the film, Jack Hawkins, in one of his first roles, plays Daisy's persistent suitor.