Watch House Of Danger

House of Danger is a 1934 black-and-white thriller directed by Charles Vidor and starring Onslow Stevens, Janet Chandler, and James Bush. The plot revolves around a group of people who are invited to spend the night at a mansion with a macabre past. As the night unfolds, they find themselves at the mercy of the sinister forces that haunt the house.

The film begins with a scene of a group of people in a courtroom, listening to the judge reading out the will of the late millionaire, John Hammond. His will stipulates that the surviving members of his family will inherit his vast fortune, but only if they spend the night at his old mansion, which is reputed to be haunted. The catch is that if any of them leaves the house before dawn, the inheritance will be forfeited.

Despite the warnings of the family lawyer, Mr. Cartright, the group decides to take up the challenge. The main characters are Phyllis, the beautiful but eccentric niece of Hammond, who suffers from a debilitating fear of the dark; Jim, her childhood sweetheart; and Dr. Trent, a psychiatrist who is trying to cure Phyllis of her phobia. Also among them are Joyce, the glamorous wife of Hammond's nephew; her husband, Mark; and finally, a suave and mysterious European named Louis, who claims to be a distant relative of Hammond's.

The group reaches the mansion at nightfall, and soon the eerie atmosphere takes hold. The creaking doors, flickering candles, and mysterious noises in the dark create an overwhelming sense of foreboding. As the night wears on, strange things begin to happen. They find a secret room, hidden behind a bookcase, which contains a skull, a dagger, and a diary. It transpires that the diary belonged to a former owner of the mansion, who was executed for murder. The eerie events increase, culminating in the discovery of a corpse on the premises.

The group becomes increasingly tense as they realize that the mansion is not only haunted but also seems to bring out the worst in them. Accusations fly, and tensions reach a breaking point, with each suspecting the other of murder. The climax is a heart-stopping chase through the darkened corridors of the mansion, as the group races to find the real murderer before dawn breaks.

House of Danger is a classic 'haunted house' mystery that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. The sets, lighting, and sound effects are all suitably eerie, creating an intense atmosphere of suspense and terror. The acting is excellent, especially that of Onslow Stevens, who delivers a riveting performance as the suave and mysterious Louis, adding a depth of intrigue to the plot.

The movie is a perfect example of the era's taste for the macabre, with a fascination for the supernatural, and the Gothic. It has all the classic elements of a mansion mystery, including a sinister past, hidden passages, and a secret society. House of Danger's director, Charles Vidor, has created a thrilling masterpiece that is still as compelling today as it was when first released in 1934.

In summary, if you enjoy classic black-and-white thrillers that explore the darker side of human nature, House of Danger is a must-see. The movie will have you captivated from start to finish, and the twists and turns of the plot will keep you guessing until the very end. It's a movie that you'll want to watch multiple times, and each viewing will reveal something new. Although somewhat underrated, House of Danger is a true gem of 1930s cinema that should not be missed.