The Mystery of Mr. X (1934) :
Brief Review -
This film is so underrated simply for existing in the formative era of Hitchcock and others. The Mystery of Mr. X has to be one of those overlooked movies of the '30s that didn't receive its due because of the overwhelming consumption of many great films around the same time. You might remember some of Hitchcock's early thrillers from the late '20s and mid-'30s, as well as a few other good thrillers from others, including Lubitsch's rom-com featuring a con artist, so you'd surely enjoy Edgar Selwyn's pre-code comedy crime thriller. The film revolves around a series of murders occurring across the city at the same time a thief is at work trying to steal a precious diamond. One of the murders takes place on the same premises, and the cop suspects that both crimes are committed by the same criminal. They apprehend the wrong person, allowing the murderer and the thief to continue their activities. The thief, however, decides to save this innocent man and offers his good advice to the police. The cop suspects something fishy and conducts a different investigation simultaneously. The thief and the commissioner's daughter fall in love, complicating matters for him. Will he and the police be able to find the real killer? The entire film is light-hearted yet quite intriguing. The tricks are thrilling, even though the feature isn't particularly mysterious. It is executed very cleverly without making things too serious. The way the thief shifts the diamond from one location to another is absolutely mind-blowing when viewed in the context of any film from the 1930s. The suspense and curiosity are both well-built and well-served. This has to be one of the finest characters and performances by Robert Montgomery. What a charming and intelligent thief he portrayed! Elizabeth Allan was delightful, and Lewis Stone was fabulous. Philip MacDonald's original work deserves all the credit, followed by a brilliant screenplay and the director's fantastic grip on the narrative. I have seen hundreds of good thrillers from old Hollywood, yet I was glued to the screen for 80 minutes. Isn't that enough to tell how good this one is?
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
