''The Frightened Lady'' is a 1932

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

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 Film producer, producer of the silent film, silent era. He directed a total of 34 films between 1912 and 1934. Early career Hayes was born on Decemb ...

and starring

Emlyn Williams George Emlyn Williams, CBE (26 November 1905 – 25 September 1987) was a Welsh writer, dramatist and actor. Early life Williams was born into a Welsh-speaking, working class family at 1 Jones Terrace, Pen-y-ffordd, Ffynnongroyw, Flintshi ...

Cathleen Nesbitt Cathleen Nesbitt (born Kathleen Mary Nesbitt; 24 November 18882 August 1982) was an English actress. Early life and education Kathleen Mary Nesbitt was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, in 1888. She was of Welsh and Irish descent.Before ...

Norman McKinnel Norman McKinnel (10 February 1870 – 29 March 1932) was a Scottish stage and film actor and playwright, active from the 1890s until his death. He appeared in many stage roles in the UK and overseas as well as featuring in a number of films, ...

and

Belle Chrystall Belle Chrystall (25 April 1910 – 7 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 gi ...

. 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

as Lord Lebanon *

as Lady Lebanon *

as Chief Inspector Tanner *

Gordon Harker William Gordon Harker (7 August 1885 – 2 March 1967) was an English stage and film actor. Harker was one of the sons of Sarah Elizabeth Harker, née Hall, (1856–1927), and Joseph Harker (1855–1927), a much admired set painter for the ...

as Sergeant Totty *

as Aisla Crane *

Cyril Raymond Cyril William North Raymond Order of the British Empire, 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. Hi ...

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 rec ...

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) * ''Beyond the Cities'' (1930) * ''Creeping Shadows'' (1931) * '' Strictly Business'' ...

as Gilder *

Julian Royce Julian Royce (26 May 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'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' 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 English-language thriller films {{1930s-thriller-film-stub