House of Horror (film)
House of Horror is a 1929 American mystery film directed by Benjamin Christensen. The film stars Louise Fazenda and Chester Conklin and was released in both a silent and sound version which featured a Vitaphone soundtrack with talking sequences, music and sound effects. Both the silent and sound version of House of Horror is now presumed lost.
| The House of Horror | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Benjamin Christensen |
| Screenplay by | Benjamin Christensen[1] |
| Story by | Benjamin Christensen[1] [2] |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Louis Silvers[1] |
| Cinematography | |
| Edited by | Frank Ware[1] |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | First National Pictures, Inc.[2] |
Release date |
|
| Country | United States[2] |
Cast
- Louise Fazenda as Louise
- Chester Conklin as Chester
- James Ford as Joe
- Thelma Todd as Thelma
- William V. Mong as Mystery Man
- Emile Chautard as Old Miser
- William Orlamond as Miller
- Dale Fuller as Gladys
- Tenen Holtz as Brown
- Michael Visaroff as Chauffeur
Production
The House of Horrors was released with both silent and sound versions of the film.[1] The sound version of the film contained a brief talking sequence at the beginning of the feature but was otherwise just with sound effects and a music score from a Vitaphone disc.[1]
Release
The House of Horrors was distributed by First National Pictures on April 28, 1929.[2] The film was Christensen's final Hollywood production as after completing the film he went to Denmark to handle some business ventures . Christensen had plans to make an independent production and return to the United States to follow-up with an American film but he returned to Denmark again 1934.[3]
As of 2018 both the sound and silent version of the film are considered lost films.[1]
Reception
From contemporary reviews, Photoplay called the film a "cheap claptrap mystery movie which is saved by the comedy of Chester Conklin and Louise Fazenda"[1] A review in Variety declared it "one of the weakest and most boring afterbirths of pseudo mystery-comedy grinds out of Hollywood. The thing actually rants and rambles, with audience of any mental caliber at sea until the last reel when the title writer makes a supreme effort to account with cart before horse angle."[1] Film Daily declared the film "just a dud that develops nothing in a flat mystery story with a lot of phony situations" declaring its gags as "ancient".[3] Harrison's Reports called the film "a comedy-mystery melodrama, that does not hold the interest too much because the spectator suspects the ending almost from the beginning and is bored by the useless chasing in and out of rooms [...] The familiar hokum of trap doors, mysterious falling objects and door slamming take place"[3]
References
- Pitts 2018, p. 117.
- "The House of Horror". American Film Institute. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
- Pitts 2018, p. 118.
Sources
- Pitts, Michael R. (2018). Thrills Untapped: Neglected Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928-1936. McFarland. ISBN 978-1476632896.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)