The Phantom of Crestwood

The Phantom of Crestwood is a 1932 American Pre-Code murder mystery film released by RKO Radio Pictures, directed by J. Walter Ruben, and starring Ricardo Cortez, Karen Morley, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Anita Louise, H. B. Warner, and Pauline Frederick. Morley plays Jenny Wren, who plans to extort money from various wealthy ex-lovers, after she lures them to an estate called Crestwood.

Contents

• The phantom of crestwood preview clip
• Plot
• Cast
• References

The film was based on a radio serial, which was heard on NBC Radio's Hollywood on the Air for six weeks (Fridays at 10:30 P.M. Eastern Time) from August 26 through September 30, 1932, and a contest was held where listeners sent in suggestions for the film's ending. The film features what Leonard Maltin referred to as an "eye-popping" flashback technique.

According to RKO records the film made a profit of $100,000.

Plot

Ricardo Cortez plays Gary Curtis (alias Farnsbarns), a PI in New York who is known for skirting the law. Curtis is sent to get some letters from Jenny Wren (Karen Morley), who is a courtesan. Wren tells Priam Andes (H. B. Warner) to have some of her former lovers come to a gathering at Crestwood. At the gathering, she tells her former lovers that she is leaving but wants money from all of them, and explains that a boy she was trifling with committed suicide. Later that night Jenny Wren is killed. A road washed out keeps everyone at Crestwood. Now Gary Curtis must find out who the murderer is before the police arrive and pin it on him.

Cast

(cast list as per AFI database)

Ricardo Cortez as Gary Curtis, also known as Farnsbarns

Karen Morley as Jenny Wren

Anita Louise as Esther Wren

Pauline Frederick as Faith Andes

H. B. Warner as Priam Andes

Mary Duncan as Dorothy Mears

Sam Hardy as Pete Harris

Tom Douglas as Tom Herrick

Richard "Skeets" Gallagher as Eddie Mack

Ivan Simpson as Henry T. Herrick, also known as Mr. Vayne

Aileen Pringle as Mrs. Walcott

George E. Stone as The Cat

Robert McWade as Senator Herbert Walcott

Hilda Vaughn as Carter

Gavin Gordon as William Jones

Matty Kemp as Frank Andes

Clarence Wilson as Apartment house manager

Eddie Sturgis as Bright Eyes

Robert Elliott as Tall Man