Lovesusti
The Worst Film Ever
Jonah Abbott
There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.
Jenni Devyn
Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.
ksf-2
Produced by Mascot Pictures, a precursor to Republic, this is the story of Jasper Whyte (Charley Grapewin). In ill health, he tells people he's giving them his money before he croaks, so the gov'ment doesn't get it. Then... it starts to thunder and lightning.... it was a dark and stormy night. The grand- daughter who didn't get any money shows up, and things start to happen. Co-stars Regis Toomey and Hedda Hopper. Hopper had been around in the silents for YEARS, but of course would be known as the gossip columnist after her acting days. and Rafaela Ottiano is "Elvira", the creepy maid. she always had goofy, creepy roles. like the over-protective Suzette in "Grand Hotel". Directed by W. Christy Cabanne, who had begun as an actor in the VERY EARLY days of silent films... then went on to direct TONS of silents and Talkies. According to wikipedia, Cabanne directed Shirley Temple in her first credited role. One Frightened Night is pretty good... sound and picture quality are pretty shakey, but it probably needs restoration. A shortie, at 66 minutes. But they pack a lot in that time. They DO show various magic show bits, to liven things up a little. mixed in with playing some pranks on the sheriff. gets pretty wacky at the end. Currently showing on Moonlight Movie Channel.
lugonian
ONE FRIGHTENED NIGHT (Mascot Pictures, 1935), directed by Christy Cabanne, is a poverty row mystery film from an original story by Stuart Palmer, author of the crime solving heroine creation of those "Hildergard Withers" mysteries. Reminiscent to similar story ideas that developed into THE CAT AND THE CANARY (Universal, 1927) and THE THIRTEENTH GUEST (Monogram, 1932), involving the reading of the will to surviving relatives during a thunderous after midnight rainstorm followed by mysterious murder(s), ONE FRIGHTENED NIGHT, being its very own participation to this genre of horrors and comedy, is quite a satisfactory effort, even for a low-budget project. Featuring Charley Grapewin in a very rare leading role, offers an interesting insight to his character as "an old grouch," considering how hard it is to forget his lovable character of Uncle Henry from the now legendary 1939 classic of THE WIZARD OF OZ (MGM) starring Judy Garland.Starting with the opening credits superimposing the visual of an old house at night during a thunderstorm where the actors are physically introduced from behind open shutters, the story gets underway where somebody starts off by saying, "What a swell night for a murder." Inside the mansion is old Jasper White (Charley Grapewin) hosting a late evening dinner for friends and relatives, consisting of Arthur and Laura Proctor (Arthur Hohl and Hedda Hopper), Tom Dean (Regis Toomey) and Doctor Denham (Lucien Littlefield), before the reading of his will. Jasper reveals that, to beat the new state inheritance tax effective at midnight, he's going to give them each a million dollars. They each get to have their individual share provided that Jasper's long lost granddaughter, Doris Waverly, is not found. Moments later, Doris Waverly (Evalyn Knapp), who has answered an ad placed in the newspaper by Felix (Clarence Wilson), Jasper's attorney, arrives, depriving the others from getting the money they have hoped to receive. With the intent to right the wrong he did to his daughter for marrying an actor, Jasper, having acquainted himself with his granddaughter, intends on giving her his entire fortune. Then another woman (Mary Carlisle) arrives with her vaudeville partner and magician, Joe Luvalle (Wallace Ford), addressed as The Great Luvalle, claiming to be the real Doris Waverly. After meeting with Jasper and insisting on meeting the impostor, they find the bedroom door locked. Forcing the door open, the body of the first Doris is found dead after reportedly drinking poison. Ruled a suicide by Sheriff Jenks (Fred Kelsey) and Deputy Sheriff Fabier (Adrian Morris), Jasper strongly believes the first Doris was murdered, and that the actual killer is one of them. Also taking part of the mystery is Elvira (Rafaela Ottiano) Jasper's creepy housekeeper.Following the pattern of THE CAT AND THE CANARY or some other old dark house mysteries, during its brisk 65 minutes set completely inside the mansion where the guests spend a single night, in fact, one frightened night involving some sinister individual in cloak with devilish mask and hat roaming about, throwing knives and using a poison dart blow gun at his victims. To add to the suspense other than shadows on the wall are some weird oddities inside a room consisting of a tomb exposing a mummy and unusual looking wax figures. Unlike some other low-budget mysteries of this sort from other poverty row productions as Monogram or Chesterfield, this Mascot product consists of stock music to enhance the mood and favor. Scores are familiar for anyone having seen such films as THE VAMPIRE BAT (Majestic, 1933) or A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT (Allied, 1933) where they have been lifted. Wallace Ford, billed as Wally Ford, as Luvalle, better known as "The Great Luvalle," is there for amusement purposes, even as a magician unable to release himself from handcuffs in one scene. Character performers as the sinister looking Arthur Hohl and Clarence Wilson are always a welcome advantage to the story to move it along. And of course the pretty face of Mary Carlisle and future Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper in worthy supporting roles.Very rarely shown since its earliest days of broadcast television dating back to the 1950s or so, ONE FRIGHTENED NIGHT surfaced after many years in the 1980s in the wake of both cable television and home video. It also played part of a 45-minute featurette on public television's weekly series of "Matinee at the Bijou" starting at around 1983. Later available onto DVD, and being public domain title, ONE FRIGHTENED NIGHT is another worthy discovery from the movie vaults as part of any fright night/old-style movie entertainment for its time. (**1/2)
Case
While One Frightened Night is definitely not the kind of movie that you would call a classic or the kind that introduced new ideas or added new twists to the murder mystery genre, still it is a perfect little B movie in its own simple way.Really, there is nothing new here: we have the usual set of characters (the cute blonde, the dumb police guy, the grumpy but wise old man, the maid and a clumsy magician as comic-relief), the usual settings (old dark house, complete with hidden corridors) and a somewhat loose plot concerning the old guy's fortune that he plans to give away either to his relatives and employees OR to his long lost daughter. But still, everything works so fine, the characters are played out so well, the dialogues are excellently written and the film moves at such a fast pace that you will just have to sit back an enjoy the fun.The amusing title sequence already sets the mood for the spooky, but fun atmosphere and the story kicks into high gear when the aforementioned daughter show up... and not one, but two of them! And from that moment it just does not let down, we have great plot twists, witty dialogue, lots of action and even a masked killer, hiding in the shadows. If you like murder mysteries OR old dark house movies OR comedies OR just the typical, well made '30s B-movies then you simply can not go wrong with this little gem.
kidboots
Unlike today, back in film's golden age, there were always roles for older character actors. Charley Grapewin - even in uncredited parts, he was easily recognisable and when he had a featured part (as the amiable granddad in "The Night of June 13th" (1931), who decides to tell the people in the street some home truths) he was very memorable. Lucien Littlefield also made a career out of character parts (Cupido the barber in "Torrent" (1926) and "The Cat and the Canary" (1927)).In this film Grapewin has the lead role as Jasper, a crotchety head of a family, who are planning how to spend his money before he is dead. Jasper has a surprising announcement - he is going to give each of his relatives a $1 million before he dies!!! But if his granddaughter can be found, it all goes to her!!! Lucien Littlefield for once playing his right age, plays Dr. Denham.Before the night is over, Mr. Felix (Clarence Wilson) is knocking at the door with the long lost granddaughter (Evalyn Knapp) - or is she!!!Downstairs, trouble is brewing - everyone has a desperate need of the $1 million gift. Arthur Proctor (Arthur Hohl) has lost money in some business venture and his wife (Hedda Hopper) is worried he will do something foolish. Suddenly Doris Waverley 2 (beautiful Mary Carlisle, looking a treat) turns up, then the Great Luvalle (Wallace Ford), looking for her. Before Jasper can take Doris upstairs to have it out with her double, the first Doris is killed by fast acting poison.A belligerent policeman (Fred Kelsey, whose most memorable role was the house detective in the "Honeymoon Hotel" sequence in "Footlight Parade") is trying to interview people. Everyone is acting pretty innocent. Tom (Regis Toomey) the black sheep of the family is romancing Doris - or is he just after her inheritance, and the Great Luvalle is determined to find the real killer!!!It is a pretty good film - all the players have enough time to establish their characters. Rafaela Ottiano is particularly good as Elvira, the creepy maid.Very Recommended.
