Darkened Rooms

Darkened Rooms is a 1929 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring Evelyn Brent.[2] It was an early talking picture. This film is preserved at the Library of Congress.[3] The film tried to cash in on the interest in spiritualism caused by the then-popular Harry Houdini, but critics felt the film couldn't quite decide whether it was debunking the supernatural, or embracing it.[1]

For the short film by David Lynch, see Darkened Room.

Darkened Rooms
Neil Hamilton and Evelyn Brent
Directed byLouis J. Gasnier
Written byMelville Baker
Patrick Kearney
Patrick Konesky
Richard H. Digges Jr.[1]
StarringEvelyn Brent
Neil Hamilton
Doris Hill[1]
Music byKarl Hajos [1]
CinematographyArchie Stout
Edited byFrances Marsh
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • November 23, 1929 (1929-11-23)
Running time
66 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

A down-on-his-luck photographer named Emory Jago teams up with a phony fortune teller named Ellen in a scheme to cheat naive people out of their cash with phony predictions. But as time goes on, Jago begins to believe that Ellen really does possess supernatural powers.

Cast

Criticism

Critic Troy Howarth writes "Like many early talkies, Darkened Rooms suffers from primitive staging and technique, though studio technicians managed some spooky sound effects for the seance sequences....Reviews of the day praised leading lady Evelyn Brent."[1]

References
  1. Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era. Midnight Marquee Press. p. 339. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
  2. "Darkened Rooms". NY Times. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  3. Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Collection at The Library of Congress (<-book title) p.40 c.1978 by The American Film Institute, c.1978
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