Crimes at the Dark House
Encyclopedia
Crimes at the Dark House is a (1940) British film directed by George King
starring Tod Slaughter
, Sylvia Marriott and Hilary Eaves. It is loosely based on the novel The Woman in White
by Wilkie Collins
.
Tod Slaughter plays a villain who murders the wealthy Sir Percival Glyde in the gold fields of Australia and assumes his identity in order to inherit his estate in England. On arriving in England he schemes to marry an heiress for her money and, with the connivance of the enigmatic Count Fosco, embarks on a killing spree of all who suspect him to be an imposter and get in the way of his plans to be the Lord the Manor.
George King (film director)
George King was an English actors' agent, film director, producer and screenplay writer. He helmed several of Tod Slaughter's melodramas, including 1936's The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.-Career:...
starring Tod Slaughter
Tod Slaughter
Tod Slaughter was an English actor, best known for playing over-the-top maniacs in macabre film adaptations of Victorian melodramas.-Ealy life:...
, Sylvia Marriott and Hilary Eaves. It is loosely based on the novel The Woman in White
The Woman in White (novel)
The Woman in White is an epistolary novel written by Wilkie Collins in 1859, serialized in 1859–1860, and first published in book form in 1860...
by Wilkie Collins
Wilkie Collins
William Wilkie Collins was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. He was very popular during the Victorian era and wrote 30 novels, more than 60 short stories, 14 plays, and over 100 non-fiction pieces...
.
Plot summary
In this lurid melodramaMelodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
Tod Slaughter plays a villain who murders the wealthy Sir Percival Glyde in the gold fields of Australia and assumes his identity in order to inherit his estate in England. On arriving in England he schemes to marry an heiress for her money and, with the connivance of the enigmatic Count Fosco, embarks on a killing spree of all who suspect him to be an imposter and get in the way of his plans to be the Lord the Manor.
Cast
- Tod SlaughterTod SlaughterTod Slaughter was an English actor, best known for playing over-the-top maniacs in macabre film adaptations of Victorian melodramas.-Ealy life:...
as The False Percival Glyde - Sylvia Marriott as Laurie Fairlie / Anne Catherick
- Hilary Eaves as Marion Fairlie
- Geoffrey Wardwell as Paul Hartwright
- Hay PetrieHay PetrieHay Petrie , born David Hay Petrie, was a Scottish actor noted for playing eccentric characters, among them Quilp in The Old Curiosity Shop , the McLaggen in The Ghost Goes West and Uncle Pumblechook in Great Expectations .Hay Petrie went to St Andrew’s Academy, Dundee, and St...
as Dr. Isidor Fosco - Margaret YardeMargaret Yarde-Selected filmography:* Michael and Mary * The Man from Toronto * Matinee Idol * Tiger Bay * Widow's Might * It Happened in Paris * Scrooge * Queen of Hearts...
as Mrs. Bullen - Rita Grant as Jessica, the Maid
- David HorneDavid Horne (actor)-Biography:British actor and playwright David Horne began his film career in the 1930s, after a distinguished early career in the theatre. He was generally seen portraying pompous, self-satisfied characters...
as Frederick Fairlie - Elsie Wagstaff as Mrs. Catherick
- David KeirDavid Keir-Selected filmography:* The Howard Case * The Arsenal Stadium Mystery * The Ghost of St. Michael's * Salute John Citizen * Let the People Sing * Meet Sexton Blake...
as Lawyer Merriman