The Mantrap (1943)

Director:

George Sherman

Writer:

Curt Siodmak

Stars:

Henry Stephenson, Lloyd Corrigan, Joseph Allen

Cast

Cast overview:
Henry Stephenson	...	Sir Humphrey Quilp
Lloyd Corrigan	...	Anatol Duprez
Joseph Allen	...	Eddie Regan (as Joseph Allen Jr.)
Dorothy Lovett	...	Jane Mason
Edmund MacDonald	...	Assistant District Attorney Knox
Alice Fleming	...	Miss Mason
Tom Stevenson	...	Robert Berwick
Frederick Worlock	...	Patrick Berwick
Jane Weeks	...	Miss Woolcott

Storyline

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Genres:

Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Morte Espreita na Sombra

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

great Sherlock Holmes pastiche

really a hidden gem.

While main character Humphrey Quilp was only a pupil of Holmes, the plotting and dialog are pure Holmes/Conan Doyle. Pretty funny and clever script by Curt Siodmak. Jam packed with dialog and scenes, like a 90 minute mystery condensed into a 60 minute time slot. As such, it's never dull and keeps your attention. The modern police humor him and his "prehistoric" methods (such as noticing subtle yet simple illogical discrepancies), while he humors their total blindness to the details. The actual humor in the film is never broad but usually circumstantial- people getting annoyed with each other, or Quilp's friend (a Watson stand-in) who worries about his health and pulls cigarettes or drinks out of Quilp's hand when he isn't aware. Interestingly, Quilp drives (and advocates) an electric car. Certainly ahead of his time.

Don't want to say more and spoil your experience.