A STRANGE ADVENTURE (1932)
(a.k.a. WAYNE MURDER CASE)
Article #1052 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 1-31-2004
Posting Date: 6-29-2004
Directed by Hampton Del Ruth and Paul Whitman
Featuring Regis Toomey, June Clyde, Lucille La Verne

A murder is committed at the signing of a will, and a policeman comes in to investigate.

What we have here is a spooky old house, a cranky old man surrounded by money-hungry relatives, a will, a cursed diamond, a killer wandering around in a monk’s robe, and a cop trying to get his reporter girlfriend to marry him while she tries to investigate on her own. Combine this with some comic relief cops, a black manservant who is cowardly and stuttering, no music other than during the credits, and slow cue pick-up, and what do you have? Why, you have your typical forgotten horror, and not one of the more interesting ones at that. It’s mostly of note for having Dwight Frye on hand in a small role. It’s the sort of thing I’ve seen many times before, and I’m afraid this one doesn’t really add much new to the mix.