Small House of Everything

Small House of Everything

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

OVERLOOKED FILM: IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED (BUT IT DID) (1936)

This interesting low-budget film from small company Invincible Pictures stars Reginald Denny as a playwright and reluctant detective when two producers of his play are murdered.  Evelyn Brent, Jack La Rue, Inez Courtney, and Hugh Marlowe are in the top credited cast.

I liked the film, but reviewers are mixed on IMDb.  Thus:

"A wise cracking little thriller that's actually much better than it's title."

"WONDERFULLY enjoyable, entertaining and clever classic 'whodunit'...has literally got everything from a complicated plot with LOTS of suspects, a pretty unusual murder method, and some QUITE suspenseful moments, to the most funny and original wisecracks and the most hilarious characters."

"No one can dream up a dumber murder method (but they did)...but then surprisingly, it became enjoyable."

"A mostly static, dull, over-talkative, and ultimately disappointing movie.  I couldn't make sense of the garrulous plot...a shame to see Evelyn Brent wasted...a chatterbox like Inez Courtney and a tepid hero like Reginald Denny...One incredibly boring scene [with] the lackluster Denny...I thought would never end."

Well, you can't please everyone.

This one was directed by Phil Rosen (Charlie Chan in the Secret Service, Captain Tugboat Annie, The Shadow Returns) from a script by Arthur T. Horman (The Lone Wolf in Paris, Buck Privates, Captains of the Clouds).

Enjoy.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hya0uPdAUVE&list=PLInyIMKzsPlge5JpZqC_ScTYpttqSX6Zl&index=35

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