At the Villa Rose (1920 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
by A.E.W. Mason
| At the Villa Rose | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Maurice Elvey |
| Written by | Sinclair Hill |
| Based on | At the Villa Rose by A.E.W. Mason |
| Produced by | Oswald Stoll |
| Starring | Norman Page Manora Thew Langhorn Burton Teddy Arundell |
| Cinematography | Paul Burger |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 6276 feet |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | Silent |
At the Villa Rose is a 1920 British silent detective film based on the 1910 novel At the Villa Rose by British politician and author A.E.W. Mason (considered his most famous mystery[1]). The feature was directed by Maurice Elvey and stars Manora Thew and Langhorn Burton. A print of the film survives at the British Film Institute archives.[2][3]
The novel, which introduced the fictional character of French Police Inspector Hanaud, was so popular, it was filmed four times, the 1920 silent film being the first.[1] The other three film versions were sound versions, two appearing in 1930, and the last in 1940. Although the film is mainly a murder mystery, there are some horror-oriented moments such as a creepy seance scene and a somewhat violent strangulation scene in it as well.[1]
Inspector Hanaud is asked to investigate a murder in which a young female spiritualist is accused of murdering her wealthy employer in a Riviera mansion and then running away. She is innocent, but the villain is able to make her seem guilty. Hanaud uncovers the truth, that the murder was the result of a jewel robbery gone wrong.
Cast
- Eva Westlake as Madame Dauvray
- J.L. Boston as Besnard
- Joan Beverley as Adele Rossignol
- Kate Gurney as Helene
- Manora Thew as Celia Harland
- Teddy Arundell as Inspector Hanaud
- Norman Page as Julius Ricardo
- Armand Lenders as Perichet
- Langhorn Burton as Harry Weathermill
