Step behind the curtain for The House of Fear (1939), an atmospheric murder mystery starring William Gargan, Irene Hervey and Dorothy Arnold. Directed by Joe May, this suspenseful film follows an undercover detective who revives a doomed theatrical production to uncover the truth behind a baffling killing. Ghostly rumors, backstage secrets and comic moments keep the investigation moving.

The House of Fear (1939) William Gargan Irene Hervey Classic Mystery DVD

FEATURES

• Classic 1939 Hollywood Murder Mystery


• Starring William Gargan


• Starring Irene Hervey


• Featuring Dorothy Arnold and Alan Dinehart


• Supporting Cast Includes Robert Coote and El Brendel


• Directed by Joe May


• An Undercover Investigation in a Supposedly Haunted Theater


• Backstage Secrets, Suspense and Comic Relief


• Released by Universal Pictures


• Black & White Presentation


• With Cover Art

STORY SUMMARY

A Broadway performance ends in tragedy when actor John Woodford is murdered. After his body disappears, rumors of a haunting spread, and the theater closes its doors.

Determined to solve the case, detective Arthur McHugh adopts the identity of a theatrical producer. His plan is to reopen the building, reunite the performers and revive the play that was interrupted by murder.

Returning to the scene brings old tensions and hidden suspicions back to the surface. The people connected with the production have secrets, and someone appears determined to stop the show from going on.

As ominous warnings and further violence threaten the company, McHugh must look beyond the ghost stories to discover the human motives behind the terror.

With its shadowy theatrical setting and a cast of potential suspects, The House of Fear blends an eerie atmosphere with a lively backstage whodunit.

GENRE

Genre: Movie

Subgenre: Mystery / Crime / Thriller / Horror / Whodunit / Classic Hollywood

ACTORS

William Gargan

Irene Hervey

Dorothy Arnold

Alan Dinehart

Harvey Stephens

Walter Woolf King

Robert Coote

El Brendel

Tom Dugan

Jan Duggan

DIRECTOR

Joe May

FILM INFORMATION

Title: The House of Fear

Year: 1939

Director: Joe May

Screenplay: Peter Milne

Source Material: Writings by Wadsworth Camp and the play The Last Warning by Thomas F. Fallon

Associate Producer: Edmund Grainger

Stars: William Gargan, Irene Hervey and Dorothy Arnold

Cinematography: Milton Krasner

Film Editing: Frank Gross

Musical Director: Charles Previn

Production Company: Crime Club Productions, Inc.

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Original Release: June 30, 1939

Original Film Runtime: Approximately 67 Minutes

Country: United States

Language: English

DVD SPECS

Media: DVD-R

Video: NTSC

Region: Region 0

Language: English

Presentation: Black & White

DVD Display Format: 4:3

Original Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1

Audio: English Mono

Original Film Runtime: Approximately 67 Minutes

Artwork: With Cover Art

Compatibility: Please confirm your DVD player supports NTSC DVD-R.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The film was released by Universal Pictures on June 30, 1939.


• Its working title was Backstage Phantom.


• The story was previously filmed as the silent mystery The Last Warning, directed by Paul Leni.


• William Gargan plays Arthur McHugh, the detective posing as a theatrical producer.


• The screenplay draws on material by Wadsworth Camp and Thomas F. Fallon's play The Last Warning.


• Milton Krasner photographed the film.


• Charles Previn served as musical director.


• The theater setting allows the investigation to unfold among performers, stagehands and backstage hiding places.

SHIPPING

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PUBLIC DOMAIN RESEARCH

The House of Fear was released by Universal Pictures in 1939. Universal's current official film page carries a copyright notice and an “All Rights Reserved” statement. Public domain status has not been established for this listing.

Copyright registration, renewal history, underlying source material, specific transfers, restorations and artwork should be researched separately before commercial reproduction or distribution.