The Sphinx (1933)

Why so much hype?

Sadly Over-hyped

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Fantastic!

The Sphinx (1933) ** 1/2 (out of 4) A psychopath is murdering people in a small town but the police finally get a break when the killer talks to a witness after a murder. Jerome Breen (Lionel Atwill) is arrested and brought to trial but he's found not guilty when it's learned that he's deaf so he couldn't have spoken to the witness afterwards. A newspaper man keeps on Breen to see what is really going on.THE SPHINX is pretty far-fetched as far as its story goes and how it concluded but if you're a fan of these mixtures of horror, detective and mystery then there's certainly much worse out there. This one here at least benefits from getting a very good performance from Atwill who is quite believable in the lead role but there's no question that the fake sign language might get a few laughs. The supporting cast includes Sheila Terry, Theodore Newton and Paul Hurst as the detective.At just 64 minutes the film goes by at a very good pace and it's at least entertaining enough for you to waste a rainy day on. There's nothing ground-breaking here but fans of Atwill will want to check it out.

With his beautiful diction and suave manner Lionel Atwill could always be counted on to give top quality performances at either major studios or poverty row. No other actor could sound more menacing simply by saying "do you happen to have a match?" or show such contempt for anything decent when he brings a handkerchief to his face when accused of being a mass murderer!!! The female lead was Sheila Terry, a sultry pre-code actress more used to uncredited bits than starring parts - in this movie she got a chance to be more than just background dressing!!When Jerome Breen (Atwill) is identified as a murderer, defense attorneys punch holes in the cleaner's statement when he claims that Breen stopped to talk to him as it is well known that Breen is a deaf mute!! Someone who isn't convinced by Breen's saintly reputation is newspaper man Jack Burton (Theodore Newton) - he has an uphill battle trying to convince his girl, society editor Jerry Crane (Terry). She is always praising Breen's philanthropy and must be the only one in town who isn't suspicious, especially when one of his associates (Paul Fix) promises Jack a scoop but is killed before he can name the murderer!! His mother, though, definitely identifies Breen but he speaks to her as well, asking for a light and then inquiring about the time!!Sheila Terry was good and you wonder why her career didn't lead to bigger things. Her Jerry (why are all newspaper girls called Jerry!!) is smart, even while she lets herself be romanced by the smooth Breen. Lucien Prival looks as though he was born to play oily villains, here he is Jenks, Breen's ominous butler whose crafty looks and darting glances warn the viewer from the start that something is fishy. Packs a big wallop for only 63 minutes. Police beat a path to his door but Breen seems impregnable to their tricks - only because Jenks is stealthily giving him an advanced high sign. But when Paul Hurst sits down at the piano ("playing helps me think"), the eyes have it and Breen shows that he can not only hear but a note from the piano will reveal an inner room and give the game away!!Hurst is excellent as the hard boiled flat foot and is given the closing gag "They all laughed when I sat down to the piano"!! Gilbert Warrenton who delivered some eerie, fantastical photography on "The Cat and the Canary" and "The Man Who Laughs" did a turnaround here and displayed some very low key split screen effects!!

"The Sphinx" is a very good and very old mystery from the Poverty Row's Monogram studio. To be sure, it shows its age at times but it is a step up from the Poverty Row norm in that the performances and the screenplay are uniformly good. Production values are better than could be expected - in fact, the only foreseeable objection to the film would be the deus ex machina needed to pull off the twist ending.1933 is a long time ago. Todays audiences are perhaps too (pseudo)sophisticated to buy the denouement, but there always has to be a first time a plot device was employed. Probably audiences of the '30's were greatly impressed, as they may not have seen it before.I found it riveting right up until the end, which I chalked up to age, and laid aside my aforementioned seasoned-veteran-worldliness for 62 minutes.

There is something chilling about Lionel Atwill in this movie. With out saying nary a word he manages to make you want to crawl out of your skin. The plot of a mute man on trial for a murder committed by a killer who spoke is filled with pitfalls and possibilities. The film avoids most of the former while finding many of the latter in telling a very good story.But above it all is Atwill who manages to keep you in suspense to the very end, milking the fact that he can't use that magnificent voice of his for any effects what so ever. Its like stripping a great singer of their voice and then still having them convey the emotion of the music by gestures alone.No its not perfect, there are bits that have dated slightly, for example the sign language is silly, but its still a good thriller with a great performance at its center.7 out of 10