The Frightened Lady (AKA “The Case of the Frightened Lady”; “The Scarf Murder Mystery”)
Directed by George King
Written by Edward Dryhurst from a play by Edgar Wallace
1940/UK
George King Productions
First viewing/Streaming on Amazon Instant Video
[box] “An intellectual is someone who has found something more interesting than sex.” ― Edgar Wallace[/box]
This is a minor but enjoyable English country house murder mystery.
Isla Crane, the title character, is secretary to Lady Lebanon. She is becoming terrified of the mansion because she finds that her door is locked from the outside at night and she hears screams and things that go bump in the night. Lady Lebanon wants Isla, a cousin to the family, to marry her pianist son Lord Lebanon (Marius Goring). Neither party is interested in this marriage. At a costume party, the chauffeur to the creepy frequent visitor to the mansion Dr. Amersham is murdered with an Indian scarf. As is usual with these things. many of the characters had a motive to see the driver out of the way. Two rather comic detectives from Scotland Yard are called in.
If you have 81 minutes on your hands and like this genre, this would be a pleasant way to spend the time.
