“It must be terrible to be a man, and have to be brave.”
It’s Irene von Helldorf’s (Gloria Stuart) birthday. Three suitors are at dinner discussing various subjects when the subject of the blue room comes up. Twenty years ago an unusual death occurred in a bedroom of the old gothic castle. Robert von Helldorf (Lionel Atwill) relates the story of how his sister was found dead in the moat of the castle. She had been sleeping in the blue room. The window was found wide open. It was believed to be an accident until four months later his best friend was found shot in the same room. Both deaths occurred at one o’clock in the morning. A detective trying to determine what happened spent a night in the same room. In the morning he was found on the floor dead, his face distorted in a look of horror. The autopsy determined death was from heart failure. Since then the door has been locked and no one has entered it.
One of Gloria’s suitors, Thomas Brandt (William Janney), challenges his other two rivals to each spend a night in the room to prove their courage. The other two suitors Frank Farber (Onslow Stevens) and Captain Walter Brink (Paul Lucas) agree to the challenge. The first night Tommy locks himself in the room. The next morning Tommy is missing. The second night Frank sleeps there. At half past midnight he starts playing the piano. At one AM he is shot.
After the second incident the police are finally called in. Commissioner Forster (Edward Arnold) himself leads the investigation into Frank’s death. The investigation answers some questions, but the police are no closer to finding out who killed Frank until Walter volunteers to stay in the blue room himself. Perhaps a trap can be laid that will catch a very elusive mouse.
“The Secret of the Blue Room” was released in 1933. It was produced by Carl Laemmle and was directed by Kurt Neumann. It belongs to one of my favorite sub-genres the “Old Dark House” genre. Not to be confused with the Haunted House genre. The Old Dark House genre usually comprises who-done-it type mysteries and sometimes a bit of comedy or farce. There is usually a killer-on-the loose as opposed to a ghost or other supernatural entity. As a matter of fact, some of the interior sets used for the production were from “The Old Dark House” movie that was released in 1932.
Somebody at Universal really likes "Swan Lake". Not only was it used for the opening credits of “The Secret of the Blue Room” but for the original “Dracula” (1931) with Bela Lugosi and “The Mummy” (1932) with Boris Karloff. Carl Laemmle is said to have been quite fond of it. Of course this was when "talkies" first got started. Back then you didn't have music scores throughout a movie. A little "Swan Lake" in the beginning is always nice.
It’s just a fun movie with a good cast of characters. The script is on point and the acting is well done. I especially liked the commissioner. Usually the police are inept. It was a nice change to have one that asked the same questions I did. Some critics said that it didn’t age well. To me that makes it all the better. This is a good movie and it shows me that they don’t make ‘em like they use to.