A Face in the Fog (1936) User Reviews

Fog? What fog?

[BA_Harrison · 4/10 · 10 September 2022]

A mysterious murderer known as The Fiend is targeting the people of a theatre. To draw the killer into the open, newspaper reporter Jean Monroe (June Collyer) writes an article claiming that she saw his face and can identify him; naturally that makes her a target. Sure enough, the killer strikes but isn't successful. Jean's love interest Frank Gordon (Lloyd Hughes) tries to protect her while playwright Peter Fortune (Lawrence Gray) assists the police in apprehending the villain.

This poverty row effort is so cheap that it doesn't even deliver on the fog promised in the title (or sound effects for a gun firing, for that matter).

Sloppily written and directed, with no notable performances (unless you count Al St. John as comic relief photographer Elmer, who is only notable for being so thoroughly irritating), the film lurches awkwardly from scene to scene. There's a modicum of fun to be had from the ridiculous idea of a gun (silently) firing frozen poison into the victims and leaving no marks, and the hunchbacked killer in black cloak and hat is suitably menacing, but the film is too slapdash and laboriously talky to be an effective thriller.

3.5/10, rounded up to 4 for the entertaining acrobatic dance rehearsal at the theatre.

Not a bad effort as these films go

[Red-Barracuda · 4/10 · 7 August 2011]

A Face in the Fog is a very derivative 1930's mystery movie. We have many of the staples of the genre – a mysterious black cloaked villain, a bubbly and inquisitive female journalist, a cowardly comedy character, a ridiculous murder method, etc etc. So it isn't exactly breaking the mould to say the least. However, it isn't too bad as these films go either. Unlike many mystery movies of the time, this one actually remembers to include some suspenseful moments. OK, it's hardly a white knuckle ride but it does have a reasonable villain and a good enough final confrontation; while the mystery is reasonably diverting enough. And last, and by no means least, it's very short so it never really outstays its welcome. These old Poverty Row films are for the most part extremely limited and lacking, and while this one doesn't entirely break away from that generalisation, it's one of the more entertaining ones.

Fiendishly Awful

[Hitchcoc · 3/10 · 9 November 2009]

From the awful death scenes to guns that fire without making sounds to a character called the Fiend. It's all tiresome, slow moving, unimaginative drivel. It was OK seeing the guy with the cape and the hunchback lurking around. Visually it was creepy and probably occupied the moviegoer of the time, but even in 1936 one would think that there would have been a little more imagination and verisimilitude to even a film like this. I just kept waiting for something to happen of any importance as people stood around making speeches and acting like they were posing at an office picnic. And then there are those bullets as a previous commentator mentioned. Perhaps the best clue would have been to search for a water spot on someone's pants pocket.

Lawrence Gray's Penultimate Film

[drednm · 31 October 2007]

Bizarre little mystery with no budget, but the story is pretty good and there are several interesting actors here at the zenith of their careers. A murderer called "the fiend" is killing show people but no one knows how they are being killed except that they are being poisoned. No one ever comes near the victims. And then there's that hunchback.

June Collyer (her last film) plays a meddlesome reporter who claims she can recognize "the fiend" because she saw his face in the fog (in a mirror). She becomes his target. Fellow reporter (Lloyd Hughes) tries to protect her, along with a ditzy photographer (Al. St. John). After there is a murder in a theater, the playwright (Lawrence Gray) pitches in to help solve the case.

St. John had been in silent films in the teens with Keaton and Arbuckle. Hughes was also a silent film start (THE LOST WORLD), and Gray was a big star in silent films and early musicals with the likes of Gloria Swanson, Marion Davies, and the Duncan Sisters.

Worth a look.

So fiends do cast reflections.

[mark.waltz · 2/10 · 7 September 2022]

I love how the writer just mentions "the fiend" as if the audience knows automatically what everyone is talking about, what the fiend is up to, only giving details after "the fiend" is shouted by a bunch of ridiculously idiotic reporters several times. Reporter June Collier has been allegedly attacked by the hidden killer, assuming prison darts were responsible for the murders already committed, and by some dumb luck, puts two and two together and manages to get the right answer.

The fiend is spotted as a dark figure with a badly broken leg, hobbling along at a pace that a turtle could outrun. This has probably the most consistently dumb dialog (spoken in a tedious monotone) and ridiculously cartoonish characters which includes fellow reporter Lloyd Hughes, the idiotic Al St. John (whose schtick is instantly eye rolling) and of course the typical dumb law enforcement officers and district attorneys. The fact that the plot is set up for the journalists to solve the mystery (with the help of a playwright, Lawrence Gray, tossed into the plot) is a pathetic way for the mystery to be solved. This is B movie tedium at its worst.

Numb From the Neck Both Ways

[wes-connors · 4/10 · 4 July 2009]

"A stage company cast finds themselves terrified when a bizarre killer known as 'The Fiend' targets them for death. A pair of reporters and their clumsy photographer set out to work the story of 'The Fiend' and find themselves targets as well. Just as you think our trio of heroes has the case solved, you're thrown another twist that has you wondering who the killer really is," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.

Taking "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" to Hollywood, producer Sam Katzman's lack of studio settings probably helps "A Face in the Fog" look interesting, especially toward the end (1930s traffic). The direction could be improved upon; for example, the camera angle on the fight scene is not helpful. The budget appears slight. Under the circumstances, most of the silent/talkie crossover cast perform it amiably.

**** A Face in the Fog (2/1/36) Robert F. Hill ~ Lloyd Hughes, June Collyer, Al St. John

Another Sam Katzman Minum Opus

[boblipton · 3/10 · 11 February 2018]

Newspaperman Lloyd Hughes and newspaperwoman June Collyer want to get married, but first they need to track down the Fiend, a hunchback who's been attacking a theatrical company putting on a play by author Lawrence Gray. The fiend poisons people, but takes a break to shoot at Miss Collyer. He keeps hitting other people, who die of poisoning. The two are helped -- if that's the word -- by cameraman/comic relief Al St. John, who seems not to have read the script, but walks around with a vague, wary expression and responds to everything with "So long as you've got your health."

It's a cheap and unengaging piece of tripe, with stars who have long since lost their luster the only draw, just the sort of thing you'd expect from producer Sam Katzman. Director Robert Hill does not require his actors to speak loudly enough to reach the back row of the balcony, for which I credit sound man J.S. Westmoreland.

Without Al St. John's character, I'd have given this one a 5!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 26 February 2014]

"A Face in the Fog" is a 1930s B-mystery movie from a tiny little so-called 'Poverty Row Studio'--and Hollywood made a ton of these films. What sets this one apart is the bizarre means of killing as well as the god-awful supporting role played by Al St. John. It's a shame, as St. John was a talented veteran actor. He co-starred with his uncle, Fatty Arbuckle, in a lot of early comedies and found a real niche for himself in the 1930s as a western sidekick. Here, however, his presence as 'Elmer' is about as welcome as a case of the clap!

The film is about a hunchbacked fiend who is killing people who work in one particular theater. Obviously the guy has a grudge against the place. However, HOW he's killing people is a bit of a mystery--as is who this fiend is. A rather stupid lady reporter hatches an insane idea--write in her paper that she's seen and can identify the guy in the hope that this will flush him out into the open (duh!!). Can this nitwit survive? And, can the fiend PLEASE kill Elmer?!

Provided you turn off your brain and don't mind Elmer too much, this is a mildly enjoyable film of the genre. However, there are certainly better films out there and not seeing this one won't in any way be a bad thing. Watchable and nothing more.

Creaky thriller

[jamesbardrick · 3/10 · 28 July 2014]

Low budget "poverty row" murder mystery movie from mid-1930's Hollywood. Suffers from poor production values for the most part - only one set in an apartment looks as if it had any money & time spent on it, a primitive storyline & a crude depiction of the villain at work with the risible nickname of "The Fiend", the opening scene is surprisingly poor & on the level of an amateur theatrical production. Worth watching for the acting by a stylishly dressed cast which is pretty good - apart from the female lead, who is a non-event, the dialogue between the characters which is snappy & competently written, & an excitingly filmed fight midway thru.

Nonsensical mystery of a hunchbacked killer on the loose works on in its own twisted sort of way

[dbborroughs · 6/10 · 13 August 2006]

A reporter claims to have seen the face of "the Fiend", a hunchbacked killer dressed in black that is terrorizing a city and a theater in particular by poisoning people by some unknown means. The Fiend naturally makes her his next target and she has to go on the run. Hooking up with a reporter she attempts to find out the killer and remain alive.

Fast moving and making almost no real sense whats so ever this movie is as artificial a mystery as you can get. Its best described as taking a 1930's mystery and stripping it of anything other than the mystery mechanism (Murderer is on the lose killing people) while throwing in cliché characters, comic relief and making any revelation either a red herring or more likely a twist out of the left field of a ball park two cities over just to keep things going.

In any real sense its a mess, however as a pure machine it works. As totally mindless mystery time killer it can entertain you. Its the type of thing where you can pretty much guess the killer the instant he appears, but you don't care and can't be sure because the film is making so many odd turns that nothing makes sense even though you're hoping it will.

I don't know if you should search it out, but if you run across it an want to see as nonsensical and stripped down mystery as you can get its worth a shot. (I just don't recommend this if you need things to make and real linear sort of sense)

A late genre entry that isn't too bad.

[reptilicus · 8/10 · 1 July 2006]

A bizarre killer called "The Fiend" is holding the city in a grip of fear. No one has seen his face and lived to describe it. He kills with a diabolical poison but there is never a wound on the body. Who is he? How does he commit his crimes? Is he a madman or is he dangerously sane?

This thriller from 1936 came very late into the genre. In fact this was the year the first great cycle of terror films ended due to the British market drying up. Still it is a fun film that mixes suspense with comedy.

Frank Gordon and Jean Monroe (Lloyd Hughes and June Collier) are reporters for the "Daily Journal". Jean prints an article that she has seen the face of The Fiend which gets her marked as a victim. With Frank helping the cops in tracking down clues they track the seemingly crippled, hunchbacked killer to a theatre where a musical show is going on. Hardly have they arrived when the shows lead dancer becomes the next victim. With the producers worried the bad publicity will wreck the show and the playwright playing amateur detective it'll be a miracle if Frank and the cops can get anything done.

If this movie had been made 6 years earlier I would have expected Sheldon Lewis to be in the cast. Whoever dreamed up the character of The Fiend seems to have borrowed a few pages out of Mr. Lewis' acting manual though because our villain reminded me a lot of The Clutching Hand. Of course the idea of a caped, limping hunchback goes back to the 1926 serial OFFICER 444 and maybe even further than that. usually the villain turns out to be an ordinary person in makeup but knowing Who does not always mean knowing Why and that is what keeps us guessing throughout many of the movies in this genre. A FACE IN THE FOG is no exception to that rule.

Acting is fairly competent all around. Lloyd Hughes is best remembered (by me anyway) as the brave reporter who goes with Wallace Beery and Bessie Love to THE LOST WORLD in 1925. Watch for Al St. John as Elmer, the photographer who is scared of his own shadow and keeps tripping over his own feet. Al got started with Mack Sennett and appeared with people like Buster Keaton and Fatty Arbuckle. In the 40's he grew a beard and became "Fuzzy" St. John and acted in dozens of B western with Buster Crabbe, Eddie Dean and any other sagebrush hero who needed a sidekick.

Okay so the comedy relief gets a little strained at times. At one point Frank gets Elmer on the phone and tells him to call the cops because The Fiend is close by. Elmer faints on the spot and when he comes to an hour later the police already have a suspect in custody. The one musical number we get to see is . . .well . . .okay, but it is obvious producer Sam Katzman was no Busby Berkley. As for suspense, expect plenty!

Give this one a chance. You will not be disappointed.

Just when you think you know who the killer is!!!!

[kidboots · 7/10 · 21 September 2009]

This was June Collyer's last film before her retirement and featured an unusual plot with an interesting theatrical setting.

Drama editor Jean Monroe (June Collyer) publishes a tantalizing story in the Daily Journal where she hints that she knows the identity of a mad killer, a hunchback known as "The Fiend". The film begins at an exciting pace. While looking at her column Jean is visited by a caped hunchback - "The Fiend" - she grabs her coat and hails a cab but the driver is felled by a bullet meant for Jean. She doesn't really know who "The Fiend" is, the story was just a stunt but "The Fiend" doesn't know that and is now out to get her!!!

Fellow news hound Frank Gordon (Lloyd Hughes) decides to keep an eye on her and together they go to the Orient Theatre to see Wallington (George Ball), a performer, who has requested an interview with Jean. Of course he sent no such note but "The Fiend" has followed her and the stage is set for another exciting shoot out. All the clichés in the book are in this film but they all work wonderfully. Wallington gets the poisoned dart (the now proved murder weapon) but he still has time to utter those immortal words "the murderer is ..." just before he dies!!! Zany photographer (Al St. John) is on hand to offer pearls of wisdom throughout the film.

The playwright Peter Fortune (Lawrence Grey) appears very friendly and helpful and throws suspicion on Sanchez, a person who has helped him devise ingenious murder plots for his plays over the years. Reardon (Jack Mulhall) is not who he seems - when he is on the phone, supposedly talking to police headquarters, Gordon sees that he has his finger down on the receiver. He is then tracked to Sanchez' house but has no explanation of why he is there. When the police decide to do a re-enactment at the theatre Reardon decides to talk ...but is killed before he can say anything. Gordon delves back into Fortune's life and finds that 10 years before there was a terrible fire at his first theatre and no explanation can be found. Just when you think you know who the killer is.........!!!!

This is one of several Victory productions based on the short stories of popular novelist Peter B. Kyne and it is an excellent film. It is action packed and although cliché ridden - who cares!!!!

The actors were very good in their roles - Lawrence Grey had his period of popularity in the very early 30s where he had success in several early musicals - "Sunny", "Spring is Here", "Children of Pleasure" "Marianne" and "It's a Great Life". "A Face in the Fog" was his next to last film. Lloyd Hughes was a personable leading man but just not interesting enough to become a major star. More virile looking than David Manners, he was a compliment to his leading lady whether it was Colleen Moore in "Ella Cinders" (1926) or Alice White in "Sweethearts on Parade" (1930). He did make a few films with his co-star June Collyer and even made a couple in Australia - "A Broken Melody" (1937) and "Lovers and Luggers" (1938) before his career ended.

Highly Recommended.

Interesting 1930s murder mystery

[wrbtu · 26 May 2003]

My copy of this film is very difficult to watch (lots of vertical wavy lines), so it was tough to stick with this film, but it was an interesting 1930s murder mystery. It was fun to see lots of old cars with running boards all over the street scenes. The acting was competent, & the plot involved a novel idea (of "frozen" bullets). You have to forget about the fact that the killer carried these "frozen" bullets around for hours in his pocket, but that's a mere insignificant detail in a "Poverty Row" film such as this one. I rate it 5/10.

Sam Katzman to the rescue!

[JohnHowardReid · 6/10 · 30 December 2017]

Quickie producer Sam Katzman would be surprised to know that his "C"-budgeted "Face in the Fog" now has a multi-million dollar look. All Bob Hill's economical shooting - even with a few expensive running inserts - in Los Angeles traffic has now paid handsome dividends. You couldn't duplicate such scenes today for under $10 million. This is good fortune indeed, as the climax otherwise is rather tame with the killer shot in the back by a bit player. Superb photography by Bill Hyer and nice green tinting in the print under review further adds to the picture's attractiveness. It's hard to believe that the so-so script with its pulp fiction characters and dime-novel plot was actually based on a real story by Peter B. Kyne. (Although chiefly remembered to-day as the author of Three Godfathers, Mr Kyne was such a popular and well-known writer in his day that he earned a steady income from Poverty Row producers by agreeing to lend his name to non-existent original screen stories that allegedly formed the basis for numerous "B" screenplays). It's hard to sustain much interest in the script as written, but this lack of audience involvement is compounded by the casting of Lawrence Grant as a second lead. Mr Grant's appearance further detracts from the limited impact of what was already a ridiculously melodramatic old plot. Not that Mr Grant is a bad actor. In fact he's never less than competent. The trouble is that he looks too much like Lloyd Hughes. When both actors are wearing hats - which is often - it's difficult to tell them apart. A further burden for long-suffering viewers lies in the presence of Al St John as a Keatonesque cameraman. At least he doesn't treat us to his "Fuzzy" impersonation. Clean-shaven, he's mildly tolerable. And he does play two key scenes in the plot. Fortunately, June Collyer makes a beguiling heroine. And it's always nice to see Jack Mulhall. Though his role and motives are somewhat ambiguous, he makes the most of an unforgettable sequence in which he pretends to ring the police whilst holding down the phone receiver. By Katzman's impoverished standards, production values are surprisingly high, featuring at least two or three richly-dressed sets.

A great 30's mystery!

[[e-mail] · 9/10 · 24 September 2004]

I've always been a fan of films where the killer is disguised in some way.....usually hunchbacked, a long cloak, a hat pulled down over his face, and a decided limp. That's why i LOVE this film! :)

(Other films with "disfigured murderers" are The Bat Whispers, Miss Pinkerton & the Cat & the Canary).

This film also uses a stock music track that was most noticeably used in "The Clutching Hand" serial...........viewing this film, it's difficult to believe that this film is a LATE 30's entry!!!

A weird-looking killer, known as "The Fiend" is out to murder the members of a Broadway show, with a most unusual weapon (no spoiler here!).

The lites go out, and the person is dead....they've been poisoned, but without a mark on them!

Two newpaper employees try to track 'em down (to get the scoop and the reward money for their honeymoon----they do, of course!).

Despite what the "trivia" says, this film IS NOT "LOST" !!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a copy of it, and i imagine that there are others out there somewhere.

This is a MUST SEE........IF you're lucky enuff to find it!

Norm

What's an hour ?

[Byrdz · 2 January 2017]

What's an hour anyway? Sixty minutes. That's all. If you come upon this 1936 mystery, give it a look see.

The other reviews pretty much give the plot so I won't. I did make notes of some things that struck my fancy as I was watching:

The Arch Villain (known as "THE FIEND") is entering the heroine's apartment through an open window. She cleverly locks the door to the room, puts on her fur trimmed coat and stylish little hat (with feather) and exits. I was surprised that she did not take the time to check her lipstick or lock the apartment door behind her .

When a cab driver is shot right next to her, she makes a ladylike little "eek" sound and runs. No screaming for this little lady.

Said villain is a graduate of the "Mr. Hyde" school of villainy with a master in fiendishness, i.e. flowing black cape, crab walk, mismatched feet, large black hat and ... and he is, of course, a hunchback.

Being unfamiliar with the actors and the use of long shots of same, it was difficult to see which man was which and who was who and so the "plot" got a tad muddled. Things were complicated enough already without having to back track to try to figure out just who was in the scene..

Seeing the old cars, typewriter, telephones, telephone operator, hotel bellboys with little caps and uniforms and the 1936 plot and acting style are worth the time spent. The story was actually pretty darn good too. BUT if you are watching it for the "fog" .. there isn't any !

By the Numbers Mystery

[Michael_Elliott · 15 October 2015]

A Face in the Fog (1936)

** (out of 4)

A masked killer known as The Fiend uses a special bullet that is guaranteed to kill his victim as well as leave his mark. Frank (Lloyd Hughes) and Jean (June Collyer) take an interest in the mystery and decide to track The Fiend down but soon they become a target.

A FACE IN THE FOG is an early producer credit for Sam Katzman who would become one of the most prolific producers in Hollywood. This Poverty Row film is certainly far from bad but at the same time there's really nothing here that sets it apart from the dozens of other "old dark house" type thrillers that were released throughout the decade. While there are a few interesting things here in the end it's pretty forgettable.

Both Collyer and Hughes are decent in their roles and they at least keep the film entertaining. Al St. John, former co-star of Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, is the comic relief friend but takes away more than he adds. At just a hour the film moves fairly quickly and as I said it's interesting enough to hold your attention. I will say that I liked the look of the killer and the opening sequence is also quite good. Still, A FACE IN THE FOG really doesn't stand out in a crowded field so it's only for die-hards of the genre.