MovieChat Forums > The Phantom (1931) Discussion > Worth Looking For

Worth Looking For

posted 15 years ago by mvance-1
4 replies | jump to latest

Maybe this isn't a great mystery-comedy, but it is an enjoyable one. Many of the plot tricks were oldhat during the time of the silents, yet they're played out here with energy and flare. I especially enjoyed the surprisingly fun and cute Violet Knights (the author/director's sister) as "Lucy," the maid, and William Jackie as the thoroughly (and creepily) insane "Oscar."

Okay, so Lucy and Oscar were drawn in very broad, even over-the-top strokes, but, any flick that casts hayseed "Big Boy" Williams as a crack reporter on a metropolitan newspaper has already dismissed any claims to authenticity, hasn't it?

An entertaining period piece. Steve V.

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 15 years ago

Massimo Girotti called this one of his favorites.

Nothing is more beautiful than nothing.

[–] wendylhesse 11 years ago

Violet Knights was my grandma. I'm so glad you liked her in this fun film. I thought she was the best thing in it, myself. Not to discount her talent, but she was just as funny, sweet & dear in real life. I didn't realize she was in talkies and was touched to hear her voice when playing "The Phantom" on a DVD a while back. It was also the first time I'd seen her in a movie.

[–] mvance-1 11 years ago

Thanks for your response and the insider information. It's been so long ago that I wrote that post that I've pretty much forgotten the movie itself. I'll dig up my copy and re-watch it sometime in the next several days. Steve V.

[–] wendylhesse 11 years ago

It never occurred to me to look my grandma up on IMDb until yesterday. I was reading a book which referred to the early days of movies (actually, a chapter in a 15-year-old book by Bill Bryson, "Made in America" about the history of the English language in the US). He had a list of stars original & stage names. I looked up one of them on IMDb then it occurred to me to look up my own grandma (Vi Neitz to me) & THERE SHE WAS! Of course, I moved on to Wikipedia, and she's there, too. What a kick! Take care & have a happy new year.