Masterful Movie

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I've seen the public domain film, "Topper Returns", many times and have pretty much memorized all of the plot twists and dialog in that creepy last chapter of that short-lived screwball ghostly comedy series. Immediately upon beginning to watch this Republic mystery comedy, released just a few years later, I began to notice the similarities. A car breaks down on the way to a spooky mansion where mayhem is about to occur, the heroine (here Lorna Gray) deals with the wise-cracking mechanic (Peter Cookson) with whom romance is about to blossom, and once they get there, they find out that they actually were not invited, but other guests have shown up out of the blue as well. Several people are murdered, and the search for uranium on the distant property (disconnected from the mainland and only accessible by a Key Largo bridge like causeway) leads to further mystery. Like Eddie "Rochester" Anderson in "Topper Returns", there is a scaredy cat black servant (here Willie Best), and like the outcome of "Topper Returns", there is a clever way of trapping the killer. There are also secret panels and surprising clues and even twin sisters (Veda Ann Borg) who obviously hate each other. This is a surprisingly entertaining, if completely unoriginal, who-done-it, grasping the viewer in and not letting go until the final comes just an hour later. The spark between Gray and Cookson makes it all the more entertaining, and Borg gets to display two sides to her usual brash personality to make for an interesting characterization. In spite of the humiliating type of role Best plays, he is very funny, which speaks highly of his talents as a comic, even if it is a shame that he had to endure the types of parts he was cast in during his long career.

Okay, you've likely seen the format before—a creepy isolated house, a series of murders, an attractive cast that includes the murderer, and an amateur sleuth. But also throw in a batch of radium a full year before the A-bomb, plus a purported ghost, for good measure. Surprisingly, the rather murky whodunit is not uppermost, instead it's the characters and atmosphere. What it all adds up to is a decent little programmer for wartime audiences and even for later folks taking a break from the computer.You just know from the outset that despite appearances Blair (Cookson) can't be the bad guy, he's just too good-looking. Besides, the winsome Ann (Gray) takes a shine to him, and you know how Hollywood is in that regard. It's an attractive cast of vets and up and comers, but I did get confused at times with the similar names and appearances. Plus, the reveal scene was much too brief, like someone's contract had suddenly run out. Nonetheless, that one ghost scene was truly spooky, along with the usual secret passages, shadowy rooms, and stormy nights. Come to think of it, I miss old b&w for the effects that color simply cannot duplicate—new Hollywood should loosen up! Anyway, it's a fun little hour with a gang of Hollywood pro's and an old dark house. So how can you lose.

THE GIRL WHO DARED – 1944Quite watchable dark house mystery put out by Republic Pictures. A group of folks arrive at a country mansion for a party. The problem here is that the invitations were not sent by the home owner. The main leads are played by Lorna Gray, (Adrian Booth) Peter Cookson, Grant Withers, Veda Ann Borg, (playing twins) Kirk Alyn, John Hamilton and Willie Best. Bodies start to pile up and the people are of course all blaming each other. Arriving on the scene is Investigator Cookson. He is pursuing a big city Doctor who absconded with $60,000 worth of radium. He suspects that one of the guests is in league with said Doctor. The story is old hat and supplies nothing really new. But the pace is brisk and the actors seem to relish their parts. Somewhat wasted is Willie Best doing the frightened servant bit he had done in more than one film. Anyways, there is the mandatory scene where all are gathered in a room while the Detective, Cookson flushes out the killer. If you have an hour to kill, this quickie should fill the bill nicely.

While this film has no big names (in fact no names I have heard at all), it still manages to be a fun "old dark house" film with a clever plot and interesting characters. The story and plot revolve around radiation, which I found to be very appropriate and a bit novel for the 1940s.I also have to call out the black servant, Woodrow, played by Willie Best. Best may not be a household name, but he had an incredible career (including such films as "High Sierra" and "Cabin in the Sky"). Maybe it is wrong of me to find humor in these "black servant" roles. Maybe they are racist. But Best does them well, making the characters he plays endearing and fun. I look forward to seeing his work.I recommend this film. It is short, so you are not investing much time. And it is well-written and of above average quality. Definitely worth a peek.