Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Suman Roberson It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

wes-connors "The death of a performer at a Broadway stage play brings a theatre critic and a police detective together as an unlikely crime-solving duo. The dead performer's niece becomes not only the object of affection for our critic, but also a prime suspect in this death, and some other murders that occur at the theatre. 'The Phantom Killer' sets his sights upon the young woman as his next victim; so, it is a race against time for our heroes to catch the killer," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.Milton Raison's screenplay puts a little spark in this low-budget mystery whodunit. Helpfully, Dave O'Brien (as Anthony "Tony" Woolrich) does well in the lead role; his skills as an actor appear to be much greater than the productions employing him. O'Brien and cab driving sidekick Frank Jenks (as Egbert "Romeo" Egglehoffer) would have made a fine 1950s TV detective team. Leading lady Kay Aldridge (as Claudia Moore) and the supporting cast are also good. Unfortunately, the story becomes meandering, and anti-climactic.**** The Phantom of 42nd Street (5/2/45) Albert Herman ~ Dave O'Brien, Kay Aldridge, Frank Jenks

kidboots Dave O'Brien is the surprise lead in this mystery - made in between his roles of "Mr Everyman" in the Pete Smith Specialities series. He plays drama critic, Tony Woolrich, who has reluctantly gone to review a new play starring Claudia Moore (Kay Aldridge) in her stage debut. Alan Mowbray, with his perfect diction and superior air is ideal casting as Cecil Moore, Claudia's renowned father. After the performance her uncle is murdered and Tony is sent to interview the Moores.Another murder is discovered - a nightwatchman and the killer leaves a note that seems to imply that he is connected with the stage. Tony thinks someone is trying to kill Cecil and traces the clues back to a play "Captain Kidd" (the nightwatchman had originally been a stage electrician in Cecil Moore's old repertory company. The star back then was Doris Hill, who under an assumed name now runs a boarding house. Tony thinks she knows something and she does - Claudia Moore is her daughter but Claudia doesn't know who her mother is!!! Doris knows other things too and is able to help Tony piece together the mystery.There is obviously a few minutes cut out at the start - but it is still easy to follow. I figured out the killer long before Tony!!!Beautiful Kay Aldridge was given a rare leading role in this, her last film. Although she had been around since the late 30s, usually playing decorative roles, her main claim to fame was as Nyoka, the Jungle Girl. She took over the role in the serial, when the original Nyoka (Frances Gifford) went on to bigger things.Recommended.

Scarecrow-88 Minor little murder mystery involving the deaths of members of a theater company and how it revolves around a popular star of the stage, Cecil Moore(Alan Mowbray). A renowned New York City theater critic, Anthony Woolrich(Dave O'Brien)is asked by his newspaper's publisher to cover the story of the murder of Cecil Moore's brother, found hung with a note with written verse from a play. A second murder, an electrician who once worked for Cecil during an old theatrical troupe many years previous, is murdered as well(..a note with verse also left at his crime scene), and Tony has a hunch that it might concern a revenge of some sort tied to the Moores from their past. Looking through an old program that contained names of those involved with this troupe, Tony questions the leading actress, Janet(Edythe Elliot)and discovers, by her own admission, that she was in fact married to Cecil and is mother to his daughter, Claudia(Kay Aldridge). This might just be the link. Both Cecil and his brother were after Janet's hand, but she was in love with another..and actor who vanished, perhaps murdered by a jealous rival for her affections. Janet married and divorced from Cecil, and soon met another, a Buchanan, someone also involved with the stage who she confirmed died in an asylum..or did he? Tony believes someone currently working for Cecil might be the madman and that Claudia could be in danger as well. Even Tony himself was shot at. Along with his trusty taxi driver, Romeo(..the wisecracking Frank Jenks, whose cabbie never feels appreciated for all he does for our intrepid reporter), and Homicide detective, Lt Walsh(Jack Mulhall), Tony will attempt to lure the killer into a trap by staging a charity play of Julius Caesar, hoping that he will literally inhabit the role of Brutus, getting caught in the process.Time hasn't been kind to this relic, and when you watch a film like THE PHANTOM OF 42ND STREET, you'll realize just why the role of film preservationists is so important. Lots of film jumps, lines and blotches that have effected key moments in the movie, and cuts into the dialogue due to the devastated quality really hamper the viewing experience..nothing's as important as getting all the details and when characters are interrupted by ravaged film and sound, you never completely get the whole story. The film is certainly of it's time as the talk and humor are relative to the people who existed in New York City of the 40's(..Jenks' cabbie is a true example of this). O'Brien is a handsome charmer and Aldridge quite a stunner. It's relatively quick at around an hour and harmless, but rather forgettable amongst others of it's type. Very talky..quite dialogue driven as clues are pursued with our hero's life always in danger, although he never breaks a sweat, quite determined and motivated to save the Moores from potential peril.

Chris Gaskin I've just seen The Phantom Of 42nd Street for the first time and found it fairly enjoyable, but a little talkie at times.A critic and police investigate a series of murders that have taken place on the set of a play. Three people have been killed in all and in order to catch the killer, a performance of Julius Caesar is held. Will the killer be caught? This is an interesting little movie and atmospheric but I found it a little slow moving in parts.The cast includes Dave O'Brien (The Devil Bat), Kay Aldridge and Alan Mowbray (Terror By Night).Though not brilliant, The Phantom Of 42nd Street is worth watching. A good time filler for an hour or so.Rating: 2 and a half stars out of 5.