“What did I ever do that heaven should give me an idiot for a son?”
Julia Endicott (Blanche Friderici) is a cranky old woman who is deathly afraid of being buried alive. Because of her fear she has had a horn installed in the family crypt. She occasionally goes to the cemetery to make sure the horn is functioning correctly.
She is one of the last of the Endicotts. Her son Phillip Endicott (Irving Pichel) is a simple minded budding serial killer. Her nephew Herbert Endicott (Walter McGrail) is a drunkard. Herbert’s wife Laura (Lilyan Tashman) is a scheming money hungry cheater who is having an affair with a sculptor, and Herbert’s best friend, Thomas Hollander (Lester Vail). Since Phillip is retarded Julia decides that she has no choice but to leave her estate to Herbert. She calls her lawyer and has a new will drawn up. Her housekeeper Miss Roberts (Martha Mattox) is opposed to the change but Julia is adamant.
As soon as the will is changed Laura tricks Herbert into killing Julia. Simple minded Phillip is blamed and taken to jail. As soon as the funeral is over Laura then talks Phillip into breaking out of jail and then talks her lover Thomas into killing Herbert. Lt. Valcour (William Boyd) is wise to the type of woman Laura is and is suspicious of her.
When the medical examiner (Frederick Sullivan) determines that Herbert is actually alive he gives him adrenaline. While they wait for a response from Herbert Valcour calls Herbert’s best friend Thomas to come and stay with him. Since Thomas is acting suspicious himself Valcour goes to his home and finds a bunch of sculptures of Laura. Valcour now knows the reason Thomas was so itchy. He is in love with Laura.
When Thomas is alone with Herbert, he tries to stab him but is stopped an officer. Herbert dies anyway. At that moment the horn in the crypt where Julia has been laid begins to sound.
“Murder by the Clock” was released in 1931 and was directed by Edward Sloman. It is a pre-code murder mystery/thriller. This was probably one of the best thrillers I’ve seen in a long time. Irving Pichel’s performance as the emotionally challenged Phillip is exceptional (you may remember him as the creepy servant Sandor in Dracula’s Daughter.) and Lilyan Tashman as Laura is fabulous as someone you absolutely love to hate. She is one nasty bitch. All around the acting is wonderful. The characters were creepy and the pacing was good.
The whole story unfolds not so much as a mystery, but it does have mysterious elements to it. You pretty much know all along what is going on, but you’re still enjoying the ride.
The movie is based on the novel by Rufus King, and the play “Dangerously Yours” by Charles Beaham.