Green Eyes (1934)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

H. Ashbrook (novel)
Andrew Moses (continuity)

Release Date:

15 June 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery

Tagline:

A Diabolical Tale Of Mystery And Murder!

Plot:

The owner of a large mansion in the country throws a costume party for some of his friends. However, the party turns sour when he is found stabbed to death in a closet. The police and a guest try to discover who committed the murder. |

Plot Keywords:

Stabbed To Death | Costume Party | Mansion | Pajamas | Motorcycle Cop

Cast

Shirley Grey	...	Jean Kester
Charles Starrett	...	Michael Tracy
Claude Gillingwater	...	Steven Kester
John Wray	...	Inspector Crofton
William Bakewell	...	Cliff Miller
Dorothy Revier	...	Mrs. Pritchard
Alden 'Stephen' Chase	...	Mr. Pritchard (as Alden Chase)
Ben Hendricks Jr.	...	Detective Regan
Arthur Clayton	...	Roger Hall
Aggie Herring	...	Dora, the Kester Housekeeper
Elmer Ballard	...	Lenox, the Kester Butler
Edward Keane	...	Raynor (as Edward Keene)

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Chesterfield Motion Pictures Corporation (I)

Quotes:

Roger Hall: After all, death isn't so terrible to the one it strikes. It's those of us who live on, safe and protected in body and spirit who suffer. Don't you think?

Unsatisfactory Rendering Of A Novel Of The Same Stripe.

This somewhat less than rewarding production is based closely upon a novel by Harriette Ashbrook: "The Murder Of Steven Kester", to a point of its inclusion of substantial swatches of Ashbrook's stilted dialogue, but since the original book remains safely confined within a rather narrow spectrum of sleuthing utilized by the English writer, it can be no surprise that the film is also dull and generally predictable. Action opens briskly with assistant director Melville Shyer, who also contributes the script, effectively leading a congregation of extras during a lively costume party sequence, this festivity organized at the home of wealthy Steven Kester by his granddaughter Jean (Shirley Grey) as a diversion to facilitate her unobstructed elopement with beau Cliff Miller (William Bakewell). Here the pace of the film begins to flag as journeyman director Richard Thorpe mishandles the tempo following discovery of Steven Kester's corpse, decorated with stab wounds, and a homicide investigation then begins under the supervision of Captain (or Chief, at times Inspector) Crofton (John Wray) who fails to acknowledge any recognizable form of correct investigative police procedures as he browbeats a large contingent of available suspects. Needless to report, many of these latter have apparent motives to have committed the slaying, and if Crofton neglects one of them, a meddlesome crime novelist, Michael Tracy (Charles Starrett), a recurring lead character as "Spike Tracy" in the publications of Ashbrook, is on hand to abet the detective. Viewers, however, will not require similar assistance, due to the story hardly being abstruse enough to challenge most armchair detectives. Production values for this low tier Chesterfield Pictures item are expectedly paltry, but some performances from players are to be valued, in particular a brief turn by Lloyd Whitlock, and neatly developed characterizations from Grey and Dorothy Revier as female suspects. Director Thorpe, ever respectful of his cast members, and especially of those whom are stage trained, leads with a loose rein.