Menace (1934)
Directed by Ralph Murphy
Genres - Mystery, Crime |
Sub-Genres - Crime Thriller |
Release Date - Nov 22, 1934 (USA - Unknown), Nov 22, 1934 (USA) |
Run Time - 57 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Not to be confused with Universal's 1932 The Menace, Paramount's 1934 Menace does however included a "revenge" motif similar to the plotline of the earlier film. A mental patient, who has sworn vengeance on the wealthy British family he holds responsible for his brother's death, escapes on a dark and stormy night. His intended victims are holding a party at the time of the escape. No one knows what the mental patient looks like, so each of the male guests falls under suspicion. For a while, it looks as though the butler (Halliwell Hobbes) is the murderer, but we can write him off under the category of "obvious red herring." The menace of Menace reveals himself in a finale rich with thunderclaps, lightning strokes, and hideous maniacal laughter.
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Themes
Keywords
psychopath, brother, revenge, stalking, death