I recently picked up a Bela Lugosi collection of public domain movies. I have many of them alas, but several I am missing, so it was well worth doubling (or tripling in some cases) up on some flicks to get the new ones.
One movie that was new to me was The Death Kiss. This movie is really a starring vehicle for David Manners, the hero of the classic Dracula with Lugosi just a year before. Also back in the cast is Edward Van Sloan.
This is a tightly written whodunnit with some pretty clever lines, some snappy banter, and a real clever peek into the makings of movies. The action takes place at a movie studio and the use of real sets gives the movie an immediate reality most such flicks are missing. It's a clever way to make up for smallish budgets.
The plot is pretty simple really. An actor is killed and his ex-wife, the heroine of the story is the main suspect. There's some very sloppy police work on display in this one, but it gives our man Manners lots of room to maneuver. He is very entertaining in this one, shifting quickly from concerned boyfriend to witty sleuth in moments.
Bela and Van Sloan play a studio manager and a movie director respectively. Their roles in this one are meant I guess their roles in the more famous Dracula. I won't say more than that. I think it's clear the makers of this one assume the audience has seen Dracula. Bela actually has a pretty minor part here, but it's good to see him in a role that's not intended to be bizarre.
There's a lot of comedy relief, and some call this a comedy. I wouldn't, it's got a somewhat too grim overall demeanor, but it's pretty good. A nice entertainment.
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