''The Frightened Lady'' is a 1932 British

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

directed by

T. Hayes Hunter Thomas Hayes Hunter (December 1, 1884 – April 14, 1944) was an American film director and producer of the silent era. He directed a total of 34 films between 1912 and 1934. Early career Hayes was born on December 1, 1884, in Philadelphia ...

and starring Emlyn Williams, Cathleen Nesbitt, Norman McKinnel and

Belle Chrystall Belle Chrystall (25 April 19107 June 2003) was a British actress who appeared in a number of leading roles in British films during the 1930s. She was born in Preston, Lancashire in 1910. She came to London and after appearing on stage was given a ...

. It was adapted by Bryan Edgar Wallace from his father Edgar Wallace's 1931 play ''The Case of the Frightened Lady'', which was adapted again later for a 1940 film. The film is also known as ''Criminal at Large'' in the United States.

Plot

A young woman goes to stay at the house of Lord Lebanon, but two murders in quick succession lead to the arrival of detectives and cause the woman to fear for her life.

Cast

* Emlyn Williams as Lord Lebanon * Cathleen Nesbitt as Lady Lebanon * Norman McKinnel as Chief Inspector Tanner * Gordon Harker as Sergeant Totty *

as Aisla Crane *

Cyril Raymond Cyril William North Raymond MBE (13 February 1899 – 20 March 1973) was a British character actor. He maintained a stage and screen career from his teens until his retirement, caused by ill health, in the 1960s. His many stage, film and tele ...

as Sergeant Ferraby *

Finlay Currie William Finlay Currie (20 January 1878 – 9 May 1968) was a Scottish actor of stage, screen, and television.McFarlane, Brian (28 February 2014). ''The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition''. Oxford University Press. pp. 175-176; He re ...

as Brooks *

Percy Parsons Edward Percy Parsons (1878–1944) was an American actor and singer who worked largely in the British film industry. Selected filmography * ''Suspense (1930 film), Suspense'' (1930) * ''Beyond the Cities'' (1930) * ''Creeping Shadows'' (1931) * ' ...

as Gilder *

Julian Royce Julian Royce (26 March 1866 – 10 May 1946), born William Leonard Gardener, was a British stage and, later, film actor. Gänzl, Kurt"Ivy: the girl who married Sherlock Holmes" Kurt of Gerolstein, 19 June 2018 Life and career Royce was christened ...

as Kelver

Reception

Emlyn William's performance was voted best in a British film for 1932. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' found it "considerably more diverting on the stage than it is on the screen...It is a rugged shocker, and when it was not stripped of some of its good scenes it kept the spectator guessing...It is, however, a talented performance that Mr. Williams gives. Cathleen Nesbit does very well as the somewhat sinister dowager Lady Lebanon and Norman McKinnel, although handicapped by the direction, lends a certain distinction to the rôle of Tanner."

References

External links

* 1932 films 1930s thriller films Films based on works by Edgar Wallace Films directed by T. Hayes Hunter British black-and-white films British thriller films 1930s English-language films 1930s British films {{1930s-thriller-film-stub