The Phantom of Crestwood (1932

1932 in film

-Events:*Cary Grant's film career begins*Katharine Hepburn's film career begins*Shirley Temple's film career begins*Disney released Flowers and Trees, the first cartoon in three-strip Technicolor film.*Santa, first sound film made in Mexico released....

) is a murder mystery film

Mystery film

Mystery film is a sub-genre of the more general category of crime film and at times the thriller genre. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of a crime by means of clues, investigation, and clever deduction.The...

 released by RKO Radio Pictures, directed by J. Walter Ruben

J. Walter Ruben

Jacob Walter Ruben was an American screenwriter, film director and producer. He wrote for 35 films between 1926 and 1942...

, and starring Ricardo Cortez

Ricardo Cortez

Jacob Krantz , known by his stage name Ricardo Cortez, was an American film actor who began his career during the silent era.-Life and career:...

, Karen Morley

Karen Morley

-Life and career:Born Mildred Linton in Ottumwa, Iowa, Morley lived there until she was thirteen years old. When she came to Hollywood, she attended Hollywood High School, and she later graduated from UCLA....

, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher

Richard "Skeets" Gallagher

Richard "Skeets" Gallagher was an American actor.He was educated at Rose Polytechnic Institute and Indiana University. He first studied civil engineering and then to become a lawyer but ended up on the stage...

, Anita Louise

Anita Louise

-Life and career:Born Anita Louise Fremault in New York, New York, she made her acting debut on Broadway at the age of six, and within a year was appearing regularly in Hollywood films...

, H. B. Warner

H. B. Warner

H. B. Warner was a British actor.-Early life:He was born Henry Byron Charles Stewart Warner-Lickford in St John's Wood, London, England in 1875...

, and Pauline Frederick

Pauline Frederick

Pauline Frederick was a leading Broadway actress who later became known for her motion picture work.-Early years:...

. Morley plays Jenny Wren, who plans to extort money from various wealthy ex-lovers, after she lures them to an estate called Crestwood.

The film was based on a radio serial, and a contest was held where listeners sent in suggestions for the film's ending. The film features what Leonard Maltin

Leonard Maltin

Leonard Maltin is an American film and animated film critic and historian, author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives.-Personal life:...

referred to as an "eye-popping" flashback technique.