Now that screenplay format has to be a certain way--which ruins the film going experience--I highly doubt a film like this would be produced today. Studios would probably scoff at the change in direction this movie gives its viewer. The first half of the film focuses on one character, who we feel is the film's central figure, but then it changes gears and the script gives viewers a new main character halfway through the film. This leads the average film-goer to confusion and this device of changing main characters midway through the film would never fly today.
The film starts with teenage Janet (Jennie Linden) who is sent home from her school. Janet, when she was eleven, witnessed her mother commit murder. Deemed insane, her mother was shipped to an asylum and the emotional Janet fears she is following in her mother's steps. Things don't go well at home as Janet has visions of a woman murdered in her family house. Although she has a strong support group around her, nurse Grace (Moira Redmond), her guardian Harry (David Knight), housemaid Mrs. Gibbs (Irene Richmond) and chauffeur John (George Cooper) she looses her marbles and gets sent to the sanitarium at the film's midpoint.
Then the film focuses on Grace who feels someone in the house is trying to drive her mad. She too begins to see visions of a woman stalking the house. But who is trying to drive her mad? The same person that drove Janet mad? Grace feels that she knows who the culprit is but someone could be playing a cat and mouse game with her.
STORY: $$$$ (The story is quite strong. The script will have you second guessing because it strays so far from convention. The problem with the shift in focal characters is that you, as a viewer, develop a relationship with the lead actor but then have that relationship squashed. Then you have to invest in a new relationship with a different character. This is the only real flaw to the film, but something can be said for breaking free of the by-the-numbers script that everything in Hollywood has become nowadays).
ACTING: $$$$ (The acting is quite extraordinary. Jennie Linden gives the best performance as the tortured Janet which, given her exceptional work, hinders the film when she loses her status as the lead. She effectively captures the audience and just when you feel the utmost emotion for her Janet, the rug is pulled out from under the viewer and her character is lost. David Knight is chillingly self-absorbed as Henry and Moira Redmond is quite strong as the quick-tempered Grace. Both Irene Richmond and George Cooper give sensitive performances in their minor roles, as does Brenda Bruce who plays Janet's sympathetic school teacher).
The film starts with teenage Janet (Jennie Linden) who is sent home from her school. Janet, when she was eleven, witnessed her mother commit murder. Deemed insane, her mother was shipped to an asylum and the emotional Janet fears she is following in her mother's steps. Things don't go well at home as Janet has visions of a woman murdered in her family house. Although she has a strong support group around her, nurse Grace (Moira Redmond), her guardian Harry (David Knight), housemaid Mrs. Gibbs (Irene Richmond) and chauffeur John (George Cooper) she looses her marbles and gets sent to the sanitarium at the film's midpoint.
Then the film focuses on Grace who feels someone in the house is trying to drive her mad. She too begins to see visions of a woman stalking the house. But who is trying to drive her mad? The same person that drove Janet mad? Grace feels that she knows who the culprit is but someone could be playing a cat and mouse game with her.
STORY: $$$$ (The story is quite strong. The script will have you second guessing because it strays so far from convention. The problem with the shift in focal characters is that you, as a viewer, develop a relationship with the lead actor but then have that relationship squashed. Then you have to invest in a new relationship with a different character. This is the only real flaw to the film, but something can be said for breaking free of the by-the-numbers script that everything in Hollywood has become nowadays).
ACTING: $$$$ (The acting is quite extraordinary. Jennie Linden gives the best performance as the tortured Janet which, given her exceptional work, hinders the film when she loses her status as the lead. She effectively captures the audience and just when you feel the utmost emotion for her Janet, the rug is pulled out from under the viewer and her character is lost. David Knight is chillingly self-absorbed as Henry and Moira Redmond is quite strong as the quick-tempered Grace. Both Irene Richmond and George Cooper give sensitive performances in their minor roles, as does Brenda Bruce who plays Janet's sympathetic school teacher).