The Phantom in the House
About The Phantom in the House
Peggy Milburn kills the bachelor Roger Stanwick when he tries to overpower her, and her inventor husband Boyd takes the blame so their child will not grow up under the crime. He is sentenced to life. Peggy grows rich on his inventions, changes her name, and tells their daughter Dorothy that her father is dead. Paroled after fifteen years, Boyd returns as a family friend, backs Dorothy's wish to marry Paul Wallis, and stops Peggy from selling the girl to a titled man. A second killing, by Boyd's old prison mate Bill, is pinned on Paul until Dorothy hears the truth.
Cast & crew
More about The Phantom in the House
Phil Rosen directed Arthur Hoerl's adaptation of Andrew Soutar's novel. Trem Carr produced. Herbert Kirkpatrick photographed, and Maceo Pinkard and Abner Silver wrote the music. Continental Talking Pictures released a sound version on November 1, 1929, and a silent version on December 1 for houses without equipment. The AFI Catalog lists the sound length at 5,725 feet.
Themes
Background
Dual sound and silent releases were still standard in 1929, while many theaters had not yet wired for talkies.
Making
Trem Carr's company was turning out quick talking pictures in 1929 and still shipping silent versions alongside them. Walthall, a silent star, carries the parolee's role with almost no defense at the trial.
Look
Herbert Kirkpatrick photographed the feature, including the silent alternate version.
Music
Maceo Pinkard and Abner Silver are credited with the music on the talking version. A separate silent print was issued a month later.
Preservation
A print survives in a European archive. The film has also been issued on home video, and a copy is on the Internet Archive.
Notes
- Henry B. Walthall plays Boyd Milburn, Grace Valentine plays Peggy, Nancy Welford plays Dorothy, and Ricardo Cortez plays Paul Wallis.
- Jack Curtis plays “Biffer” Bill, the former cellmate who kills Judge Thompson.
- Rolfe Sedan plays the marquis Peggy wants Dorothy to marry.
- A silent version was cut for theaters that could not play the talking print.
- The film is pre-Code.
Scenes
- Peggy kills Stanwick, and Boyd is found by the body.
- After fifteen years he is introduced to Dorothy as an old family friend.
- Bill kills Judge Thompson, and Paul is accused.
Influenced by
- Andrew Soutar's novel
Also available
- Internet Archive (ThePhantomInTheHouse1929)
