Best movie of this year hands down!

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Best movie ever!

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Ray Walker (Jim Landis), Irene Ware (Elsa Carson), Berton Churchill (Paul Bernard), Hobart Bosworth (Charles Carson), Hedda Hopper (Mrs Tallman), E.E. Clive (Foot, the Carsons' butler), Harold Goodwin (Peter Blake, a chemist), William V. Mong (Henry Carson), Michael Mark (Arthur Bell), John St Polis (Dr Munro), Miki Morita (Choong), Aggie Herring (Mrs Dubbin, the Carsons' cook), Lloyd Whitlock (Watson), Rose Allen (Mrs Murphy), Kathryn Sheldon (Helen Smith), Fred Kelsey (Detective Bruce), Harry Strang (policeman).Director: CHARLES LAMONT. Screenplay: Eward Adamson. Based on the 1928 novel "The Last Trap" by Sinclair Gluck. Photography: M.A. Anderson. Film editor: Roland D. Reed. Art director: Edward C. Jewell. Production executive: Lon Young. Assistant director: Melville Shyer. Sound recording: Dick Tyler, senior. RCA Victor Sound System Producer: George R. Batcheller.Copyright 30 January 1936 by Chesterfield Motion Pictures Corporation. U.S. release: 15 January 1936. 64 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Who killed wealthy but miserly Henry Carson? Detective Jim Landis and a retired colleague (and neighbor of Carson), Paul Bernard, investigate. Suspicion falls on just about every member of the cast (including Bernard) except Jim Landis, who has formed an attachment with Henry's niece, Elsa. COMMENT: This talky murder mystery, flatly directed by Charles Lamont, features virtually no on-camera action at all. That's right, no action at all (except for a failed murder attempt and an obvious stock shot of a fire). What interest there is accumulates from the seemingly endless twists of suspicion (which continue right to the conclusion) and the obvious rapport of a more subdued than usual Ray Walker and a far less pompous and more personable Berton Churchill as the unlikely pair of investigators. And of course the lovely Irene Ware garners some attention as the girl in the case. Hobart Bosworth, E.E. Clive and Hedda Hopper also impress. Production values, however, are pretty miserable. A few sets (which were none too striking to begin with) are used over and over.

THE DARK HOUR is a pretty involved little murder mystery with a complex plotting, fast pace, and plenty of twists and turns in the narrative to keep you involved. It also features two different detectives, one a young and inexperienced P.I. and the other an elder and wiser chap, for your money.The story is about the murder of an old rich man and of course in such a situation there is no shortage of suspects in the cast. Another murder follows, and one of the methods is quite ingenious as is the way that the detectives finally solve it based on an entirely innocuous clue. Still, there are plenty of surprises here, and some warm performances from the chief actors to make it a likable viewing experience.

A quick run-through of most of the plot suggests that this whodunit film might be an Agatha Christie creation, as complicated as the story is. There are five to seven suspects, depending on whom you count. And the murder occurs in the library of a large house. But though the underlying premise is okay, "The Dark Hour" is no Agatha Christie creation. Two brothers live together along with their various servants. A couple of other suspects live close by, together with a retired detective. A building fire figures prominently in the plot.It took two viewings to make sense out of the story. In the end it does all come together, though there is some conveniently coincidental timing in certain plot points. The main reason to watch the film is the ending. My guess as to the identity of the murderer was dead wrong. So the ending was a pleasant surprise, and I was able to go back and see the subtle clues that I missed. Near the end a major twist further adds to the film's enjoyment. Spine-tingling suspense erupts near the climax as an unknown person shines a flashlight into a darkened bedroom, and then fires a shot.Almost all the scenes take place on indoor sets, implying that this was a low-budget film. Production design is minimal. I'm constantly amazed at how old houses back in those days were built with such high ceilings, making rooms look cavernous. B&W lighting has a slight noir effect. The camera is largely static. Very little music occurs during the film, but I like the score during the opening credits. Sound tends to be scratchy and overall sound quality is poor, which makes dialogue hard to understand in a few spots. Acting is acceptable, my favorite performance being the actor who plays blustery Mr. Bernard.It's not the best whodunit out there by any means. The script could have been improved to enhance clarity. And production values are weak. Still, it's not a bad movie. The final twenty minutes or so are quite good, and render "The Dark Hour" worth at least a one-time viewing.

This mystery film is unusual is that there are two quite different (old & retired vs. young & active on the police force) detectives on the case, & they are both competent & work well together. Usually, Hollywood would be expected to have at least one of them take the comic element, but here they are both serious & both effective! Aside from trying to guess "who done it?," the viewer also finds him/herself wondering which of the two detectives will solve the case first, & this aspect adds to the excitement. There are plenty of suspects here, & the film moves along briskly. Berton Churchill is especially good as the older detective, & reminds me of a smaller version of the great Sydney Greenstreet. I rate this 8/10.