The Last Warning (1929)

A producer decides to reopen a theater, that had been closed five years previously when one of the actors was murdered during a performance, by staging a production of the same play with ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Leni

Writers:

Wadsworth Camp (novel), Alfred A. Cohn (screenplay),

Stars:

Laura La Plante, Montagu Love, Roy D'Arcy

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laura La Plante	...	Doris Terry
Montagu Love	...	Arthur McHugh
Roy D'Arcy	...	Harvey Carleton
Margaret Livingston	...	Evalynda Hendon
John Boles	...	Richard Quayle
Burr McIntosh	...	Josiah Bunce
Mack Swain	...	Robert
Bert Roach	...	Mike Brody
Carrie Daumery	...	Barbara Morgan
Slim Summerville	...	Tommy Wall
Torben Meyer	...	Gene
D'Arcy Corrigan	...	John Woodford
Bud Phelps	...	Sammy
Charles K. French	...	Doctor
Francisco Marán	...	Jeffries

Storyline

A producer decides to reopen a theater, that had been closed five years previously when one of the actors was murdered during a performance, by staging a production of the same play with the remaining members of the original cast.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | based on play

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die letzte Warnung

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System) (talking sequences) Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sets from The Phantom of the Opera used.

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Connections

Featured in Universal Horror (1998)

User Reviews

Unseen masterpiece of mystery!

This movie pops up on ebay once in a while and for fans of mystery or horror films, particularly those of Universal, this is a must.

The plot is unimportant - it is about a haunted old theater where an old Broadway play is being brought back despite threats from the ghost of a dead actor.

This film was the last directed by the great Paul Leni. It is really the work of a virtuoso working at his peak. It has everything The Cat and the Canary had and more. The version that seems to be relatively available on video has a good music track too, but unfortunately it seems that the experimental sound sequences the film originally contained have not survived.

Nevertheless, we are lucky that this film has survived as it is such a joyous romp of horror cliches with inventive, wild camera moves and stunning lighting and spooky set design. It foreshadows the great horror classics that were less than two years away for Universal. It is just wonderful filmmaking from a forgotten great director who was at his peak, so if you are into old dark house mysteries or Universal horror movies - FIND IT! - It is one of the best!

10/10 - even better than The Cat and the Canary.