Starring George Zucco, Lionel Atwill, Jerome Cowan, Sharon Douglas, Veda Ann Borg
Directed by Terry Morse
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
After he's released, a financier who went to prison for swindling his investors, plans a reception for them at his house, promising justice, and preparing a special trap.
I'd judge this as one of Poverty Row studio PRC's better thrillers, anchored by an ideal teaming of distinguished horror icons George Zucco and Lionel Atwill. They're surrounded by a pretty good supporting cast, and granted an ideal setting in an old dark house on an isolated island. Zucco and Atwill only have a few scenes together, and it's a shame there aren't more, but the final one is a worthy showdown between the two thespians with such a wonderful filmography of sinister characters. The story comes from the play by Bernadine Angus, and at times the framework of the play and its extensive dialogue is heavily felt, but I was impressed with the stormy exterior shots of the island, and some of Karl Hajos' atmospheric music cues. A higher budgeted film with better camerawork would be a more desirable showcase for Zucco and Atwill, but for what this film delivers, I was pretty well satisfied- per film historian Troy Howarth, this may have been one of the few films the two co-starred in.
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