The Phantom Fiend 1932 The film was titled The Lodger in the UK and it was based on the 1913 novel of the same name by Mrs Belloc Lowndes. She'd written a short story called The Lodger in 1911 which was based on Jack The Ripper and the Lambeth Poisoner. The novel was adapted for the screen by H Fowler Mear, the scenario is by Miles Mander and Paul Rotha with an uncredited Ivor Novello. It was directed by Maurice Elvey. It appeared on US screens in 1935 cut down from 85 mins to 62 mins.
Alfred Hitchcock directed a silent version of the film, it was released in 1926 in the UK as The Lodger: A Story Of The London Fog and 1927 in the US under the title of The Case Of Jonathan Drew. Ivor Novello appeared in that version and this one. There were versions of the book adapted to feature films in 1944, 1953 and 2009. In 1967 Armchair Mystery Theater adapted the novel for an episode. In 1967 there was a German version for TV called Der Mieter. There were 6 radio versions and an opera in 1960.
That's Ivor Novello with Elizabeth Allan and some dead guy. Elizabeth lives with her mother and father, they're having a bit of time with cash flow and decide to take a lodger. Ivor shows up and rents the room. The family is happy to have the rent money. They are worried about the murders, especially when Elizabeth's boyfriend, an annoying reporter, comes to call. He can't shut up, not that guy.
Elizabeth becomes enamored with the new lodger, he plays piano and violin but is a bit moody. The murders continue and mom is a bit suspicious of her tenant's activities and mood. Elizabeth doesn't believe he's the killer but it sure looks like she's wrong.
I had seen the movie some years ago and had forgotten most of it. It's about average and I enjoyed it all over again, you can check it out in the link in the title above. Sadly, the film is in rough shape and a bit noisy.
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