The Sphinx (1933)
1h 4m | PG-13
A man known to be a mute is suspected of committing a murder, as he was noticed at the scene. However, witnesses saw and heard him talking as he was leaving the scene of the crime. The police must determine if he is the actual killer or if he is being framed.
Director: Phil Rosen
Studio: Monogram Pictures
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Video: 720p
Cast
Lionel Atwill
as Jerome Breen
Sheila Terry
as Jerry Crane
Theodore Newton
as Jack Burton
Paul Hurst
as Detective Terrence Aloysius Hogan
Luis Alberni
as Luigi Baccigalupi
Robert Ellis
as Inspector James Riley
Reviews
Lionel Atwill is "Jerome Breen" - a deaf mute accused of murder on the basis that he was heard speaking at the scene of the crime. When doctors confirm that to have been impossible, he is acquitted - but not everyone believes him. Reporter Theodore Newton ("Jack") determines to get to the bottom of it, and matters take a more immediate turn when his co-worker "Jerry" (Sheila Terry) - on whom he has a bit of a crush - is assigned to write some short articles on the man and becomes infatuated with him. Atwill always did make for a good baddie and here he (and his facial expressions) do their job well - without speaking a word. Coupled with a secret room and a dead piano key as well a police officer (Paul Hurst) who is actually quite effective, despite himself, we have quite a decent little mystery here. The ending isn't the best, to be honest - it's a little as if they just ran out of film so had to wrap it up quickly, but it is still a good hour's entertainment.