I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

"Phantom" opens with the night janitor (Mantan Moreland) finding Mr. Cromwell dead on the floor of his office. The sound and picture quality are just terrible, so hopefully "someone" will give this a good restoration someday. This one stars Dick Purcell, who seems to have had a rough life all around - he was only married from March of 1942 to August of 1942. Odd. Then he ups and dies of a heart attack at age 35. Purcell works for the District Attorney, and thinks he has found the right suspect, but won't prosecute yet. John Hamilton is the suspect "John Harrison", who seems to have a great alibi, with tons of witnesses. Joan Woodbury is the reporter Barbara Mason, and part of Harrison's alibi. This is just a 61 minute shortie, so we don't get too deep into anyone's story, but it's not bad, as they go. Also interesting to see an early version of sign language, as Harrison is a deaf mute, and we see him spelling words out in court. The night janitor (Moreland) has the best lines and the best facial expressions here, giving the film a light tone. From the title, I was expecting a darker, horror film, but when they put him on the witness stand, he makes a monkey out of the lawyer. Better than I expect it to be. Directed by William Beaudine, who also had an interesting life. Note that he died in 1970, but was listed as director on films from 1974 and 1976. Started acting and writing in 1909. Wow. Low key, fun (but very predictable) film - catch it on Turner Classics.

Racist overtones aside, there is a lot to recommend in this remake of The Sphinx where horror icon Lionel Atwill played a dual role, one a killer, the other his alibi. To prove you can't be two places at once, a deaf and mute philanthropist is off doing good deeds while the other is on nefarious sprees. The outcome is obvious but the method of revelation is what makes it more fun and intriguing. Replacing Atwill is an obscure actor named John Hamilton, a George Zucco look-alike who lacks the sinister image of both Atwill and Zucco. B fan favorite Joan Woodburry is the feisty reporter who fights for her belief in Hamilton's innocence while Dick Purcell is the detective trying to prove just the opposite. On the right side of the law are J. Farrell MacDonald and Warren Hymer, still typecast as a buffoon.There's racial overtones concerning the cowardly black porter played by Mantan Moreland who first encounters Hamilton then runs to his gin stash upon discovering the film's first corpse. Director William Beaudine speeds up the plot by instilling lots of humor, particularly a sequence with Hymer on the phone with his nagging wife who squeals like an old record on the wrong speed while Hymer hides the phone in a desk drawer. Like other Monogram remakes of their earlier films, this is even better than the original. It is pure entertainment without pretension made during the war ear that needed diversions like this.

The film is a nice mystery piece. Well acted by the male and female leads playing a District Attorney and his news-reporter girlfriend. Their snappy dialog and colorful personalities keep this show moving and bright. The plot has a nice twist using a deaf mute and a twin gimmick. The show is very watchable and does fool the viewer in the best places. John Hamitlon aka TV Superman's 'Perry White' turns in a moderately menacing villain who likes the ladies and is very tricky. The rest of the cast is rounded out with police types and several character actors. One memorable performance was that of the courtroom witness played by 'Rodchester' of the Jack Benny Show. This show was contained in a three detective story DVD of the pre-war area. This was one of the best on this DVD for my likes. I can recommend it to anyone to enjoy.

A fun movie, but not as good as the original, The Sphinx, from 1933. John Hamilton cannot hold a candle to Lionel Atwill. The Phantom Killer's major asset is the supporting boost from the wonderful Mantan Moreland. For an interesting evening, run The Sphinx and The Phantom Killer back-to-back.