“My only mistake was overlooking a police inspector’s ability on the piano…”
A fatal flaw in the plans of the murderer at large in ‘The Sphinx’ (1933), a bottom draw thriller from the good folks at the budgetary challenged Monogram Studios. The great Lionel Atwill plays the title role; a deaf mute philanthropist suspected of murdering several stockbrokers. But how can he be guilty when witnesses have heard the killer speak?
Your typical nosey, loud mouthed reporter sets out to prove the case with the assistance of the typical flatfooted police inspector. Clichés abound in this mildly diverting but rather obvious mystery with Atwill’s performance the only real reason to watch. However, his attempts at sign language are mostly delivered out of shot which leads me to believe they’re probably not accurate and any script that robs him of his mesmerising voice is on a hiding to nothing from the start.
Lionel was beginning to wish he lived in a ‘No Cold Calling’ Zone
Little else is worthy of comment really; the supporting cast are adequate and the story is passable, although the killer’s method of opening his secret room is idiotic at best.
It’s always great to see Atwill so I did enjoy tracking down a movie like this where his name is actually above the title! I only wish it had been more worthy of his talents.
Mark David Welsh 