The Spider *** (1931, Edmund Lowe, Lois Moran, El Brendel, John Arledge, George E Stone, Earle Foxe) – Classic Movie Review 11,387

Edmund Lowe stars in The Spider (1931).

THRILL to the most amazing mystery of your life as a lurid web is woven around the helpless victims of… EDMUND LOWE in THE SPIDER (1931).

Directors William Cameron Menzies and Kenneth MacKenna’s intricate, imaginatively handled little 1931 mystery suspense thriller The Spider is about a prestidigitator called Chatrand the Great, who catches a murderer by his magic show stage trickery. It stars Edmund Lowe, Lois Moran, El Brendel, John Arledge, George E Stone and Earle Foxe.

Though ancient, it is quite clever, with a fine central performance by Edmund Lowe, but on the screen it loses its claustrophobic theatrical effect that it would have had as a hit stage play by Foulton Oursler and Lowell Brenatano. The screenplay is written by Barry Conners.

There is plenty of old-style mystery and suspense, and the story and the good cast help to keep you watching.

The Spider runs 59 minutes, is shot in black and white by James Wong Howe, is made by Fox Film Corporation and was released by Fox Film Corporation on 27 September 1931.

The main cast are Edmund Lowe as Chatrand, Lois Moran as Beverly Lane, El Brendel as Ole, John Arledge as Tommy, George E. Stone as Dr Blackstone, Earle Foxe as John Carrington, Manya Roberti as Estelle, Howard Phillips as Alexander, Purnell Pratt as Inspector Riley, Jesse De Vorska as Goldberg, Kendall McComas as The Kid, Ruth Donnelly as Mrs. Wimbledon, Warren Hymer,  John Aldredge, and William Pawley.

It is remade as The Spider in 1945 with Richard Conte and Faye Marlowe.

Edmund Lowe (March 3, 1890 – April 21, 1971) made over 100 films, notably including the 1926 What Price Glory?

Free download on Internet Archive:

https://archive.org/details/spider-1931

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,387

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