The Death Kiss

In The Death Kiss, A leading man, a womanizer, is killed while shooting a film. Most of the women at the studio end up being suspects. When one is arrested, it is a writer that decides to demonstrate her innocence.

The Death Kiss (1932) starring Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Adrienne Ames

Officer Gulliver: Mr. Drew, I’ve been thinking.
Franklyn Drew: No!
Officer Gulliver: Yeah. The first thing I ask myself when I investigates a murder is ‘who done it’.
Franklyn Drew: Well that sounds logical.
Officer Gulliver: And the next thing I ask myself is ‘who could do it.’
Franklyn Drew: And then?
Officer Gulliver: Then I ask myself again ‘who wanted to do it.’
Franklyn Drew: And how do you answer yourself?
Officer Gulliver: Well… I ain’t come to that yet.

Yes, there is a lot of comedy in the murder mystery. And, it’s an interesting and intriguing mystery, as well.

Product Description 

When an actor in a mystery film called The Death Kiss ends up killed during a drive-by shooting scene, the film’s screenwriter Franklin Drew (David Manners) takes it upon himself to investigate. Among the suspects are an actress named Marcia Lane (Adrienne Ames), who is not only the dead actor’s widow but also the screenwriter’s lover, and Joseph Steiner, an arrogant studio executive played by Bela Lugosi. In this behind-the-scenes murder mystery, the film’s director Edwin L. Martin reunites David Manners and Edward Van Sloan with the brooding intensity of Lugosi in ways surprisingly different from their classic collaboration in Dracula. Barringer and Kahn’s screenplay of back-stage Hollywood is an early instance of blurring the line between reality and cinema. The end result is an overlooked classic murder mystery which is surprisingly intriguing and thoroughly entertaining. The startling color-tinted sequence is as effective today as it was in 1933.

Cast of characters

• David Manners (The Mummy (1932)) … Franklyn Drew
• Adrienne Ames … Marcia Lane
• Bela Lugosi (The Devil Bat) … Joseph Steiner
• John Wray (Doctor X) … Detective Lt . Sheehan
• Vince Barnett (Bowery at Midnight) … Officer Gulliver
• Alexander Carr … Leon A. Grossmith
• Edward Van Sloan (Before I Hang) … Tom Avery
• Harold Minjir (The Public Enemy) … Howell
• Barbara Bedford … Script Girl
• Al Hill (Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks) … Assistant Director
• Harold Waldridge … Charlie (as Harold Waldrige)
• Wade Boteler (The Mad Doctor of Market Street) … Sgt. Hilliker
• Lee Moran … Todd