Monday, September 4, 2023

The Spider (1931)

An early 1930s murder mystery that takes place in the strange world of magicians and hypnosis. What tremendous fun! 


Chatrand the Great (Edmund Lowe) is a famous magician. He is assisted by Alexander (Howard Phillips), whom he said he met some time ago and is suffering from amnesia. Beverley (Lois Moran) attends the show on the off chance that Alexander is her missing brother though her uncle, the financier, John Carrington (Earle Foxe) thinks it is all a load of nonsense. At the show Carrington is shot dead in the middle of Chatrand's act! Beverley discovers that Alexander is her brother Paul but not until Alexander/Paul becomes the prime suspect in Carrington's murder!

This is a great film with a host of amusing cameos including from some members of the Our Gang group. The mysticism of Chatrand is played for laughs, as are the bumbling police. Lowe steals the show with his charismatic performance. The story itself is a bit predictable and the plot a bit thin but the film looks superb and there is a decent twist.