VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, [5], 6, 7 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 23:58:37 05/01/09 Fri
Author: Tim
Subject: Secret of the Chateau (1934)

Rare books, theft and murder are among the principal elements of this seldom seen Universal mystery-thriller. The dialogue is excellent, with liberal dashes of humor and sarcasm throughout the proceedings. The inscrutable Inspector Marotte (Ferdinand Gottschalk) is in pursuit of an elusive and enigmatic old foe named Prahec. The better part of the film takes place in the titular Chateau filled with likely suspects, including the lovely Julie Verlaine (played by the lovely Claire Dodd). Other participants include the witty blonde Didi (Alice White), the dandyish Armand (George E. Stone) and the butler Martin, played by Osgood Perkins, father of actor Anthony Perkins.

Books and their value are one of the focal points of the plot, specifically a priceless Gutenberg Bible. The tale opens at a book auction, and the final resolution plays out in the confines of the Chateau library. Various notable authors and their books are mentioned along the way, including Voltaire and Edgar Allan Poe.

Some memorable dialogue samples:

"It's the hinge that squeaks that gets the oil."

"I can't understand why anybody would want to steal a book when you can go the library and borrow them."

"A good appetite is the sign of a clear conscience."

Overall an enjoyable Universal effort, well worth checking out if you have the opportunity. But beware when the old tower bell rings at night.

Tim

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Re: Secret of the Chateau (1934) -- Rick, 02:50:48 05/02/09 Sat [1]

Thanks, Tim. Excellent review.






Rick


[ Edit | View ]


[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.