Runtime: 84 minutes
Directed by: John Brahm
Starring: Merle Oberon, Laird Cregar, George Sanders, Cedric Hardwicke, Sara Allgood
From: 20th Century Fox
Some fans of Old Hollywood may be appalled that this is my first Merle Oberon movie. I’ve been missing out-what a lovely and talented woman. Several months ago I recorded this film when it played on the Fox Movie Channel—about time I actually tackled the film.
The plot sounds basic: a mysterious lodger rooms with an older couple in London as Jack the Ripper terrorizes London. He seems to loathe actresses, and their niece Oberon has just started performing in the city… the film is more complex than that. The main players all have doubt concerning their new lodger Laird Cregar, who was shot and lit to be even more imposing than he was, nevermind his creepy comments and his even creepier behavior. Meanwhile, Tom Con… er, I mean George Sanders from Scotland Yard attempts to crack the case.
This was simply a quality motion picture. The streets of London at night were covered w/ fog, setting the appropriate mood when matched with the cinematography and direction. Another testament to how strong those qualities were: Cregar was shot in a way to make the character even more large & imposing than the actor already was due to lighting and camera angles. The performances are all at least solid, with Oberon and Cregar the highlights.
I
was enthralled the entire time between our heroes attempting to
determine if the titular lodger is the Ripper and Merle starts forming a
bond w/ the stranger. Between this film and Hangover Square, I now
realize what a tragedy it was that Laird Cregar died at such a young age
due to a heart attack induced by rapid weight loss. Besides the
obvious, what bravura performances he delivered at the end of his life.
The film begins & concludes with a bang; the rest also entranced me. On my part, it would have been better to have tackled this movie around Spooky Season last fall but alas…
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