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(1930) Huguette Duflos, Kissa Kouprine, Maxime Desjardins, Marcel Vibert, Edmond Van Daële. The setting is a sinister, gothic castle in the dark of the night. Inside, an eccentric scientist works in his lab, which is filled with glowing equipment. The night is interrupted by the arrival of a mad fiend wearing a black hat, a long, flowing cape, and a hideous mask that almost reminds one of Lionel Atwill’s horribly twisted face in Mystery of the Wax Museum. The fiend attacks the scientist’s daughter inside her private “yellow room.” But how could he have entered and left when all doors were locked and barred from inside? A young reporter and his pal arrive on the scene to solve the crime. Gaston Leroux wrote the underlying novel. This is a creepy, atmospheric “locked room” mystery that’s filled with wonderful gothic sets, menacing shadows, and screams in the night. It could just as easily be classified as an old dark house horror film. In addition, it has a cool courtroom scene near the end of the film. In French with English subtitles. From 16mm.
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