bkoganbing The House Of Secrets is owned by Leslie Fenton and he's come over to the United Kingdom to claim his legacy. However as it turns out once he gets there he finds it occupied by Muriel Evans a girl he met on the boat coming over and her family and the family runs him off his own property like he was a trespasser.In addition to that American gangster Noel Madison and a pair of henchmen come over on the same boat because they hear that there is pirate treasure at that same estate. Also over in the United Kingdom is Sidney Blacker chasing Madison for a murder he did on this side of the pond.There's a whole lot of people interested in Fenton's newly acquired real estate and that includes the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom himself. A lot of plot for a B picture out of poverty row studio Chesterfield Pictures.It's all quite silly and the various elements don't mix well and no coherent story is ever established. Some good players look very silly in this one.

MartinHafer "House of Secrets" is a B-movie--a film with a very limited budget and minor actors that was meant as a second, 'lesser', film on a double-bill. Most Bs are a few notches below A-pictures in quality, but there are also quite a few that are nifty entertainment. Well, unfortunately, this is NOT one of those nifty pieces of entertainment! While the film is pleasant enough viewing, those who have seen a lot of Bs and mystery films will recognize practically every cliché from the genre in this one film! Plus, on top of this, the plot is so very contrived that you can't help but giggle now and then--even though this is supposed to be a drama!! The film begins with a woman being bothered by a man on a boat crossing the English Channel. He recognizes her from some sort of compromising situation and tries to force himself on her. At that moment, the hero of the story sees this and intervenes--slugging the filthy blighter. Good show, old man! Pip-pip and all that rot! Then, the hero announces that he now loves this woman--a woman he met only 20 seconds before--making you assume he's had a massive head trauma. Then, after arriving in England, his path just happens to cross hers again and again when he inherits some property. There's of course more to it than this--but not much! With silly script ideas like love at first sight and the like, you simply are left with the impression the film was either written by some 11 year-olds or the film makers were idiots. Either way, it doesn't look very good and is a pretty silly little film.

Ralph Michael Stein "House of Secrets" was a second feature when it came out before World War II. Directed by Roland D. Reed, whose major career in film was as an editor and a producer, this is a mystery with many unnecessarily improbable twists Good acting and occasional crisp dialog make the movie enjoyable.Leslie Fenton, who made a lot of forgettable and forgotten flicks, is Barry, an American who on the channel ferry to Dover rescues very pretty Julie, Muriel Evans, from the clutches of a cad. A violent one at that. Instantly smitten, he defers returning to the states so as to find Julie in London. Despite being rescued by this gallant, she refused to give him her name, address or measurements.Fortuitously, Barry is called to a solicitor's office where he is told that an unknown and eccentric uncle bequeathed an ancient manor house to him. But on arriving to take possession he's driven off by dogs, the butler and a gun-wielding older guy. Coincidence of coincidences, Julie is residing at this manor. Only happens in the movies.What follows is a combination of typical thirties crime genre topped by a mysterious house, possible mad doctor caper. Always the gentleman, Barry pursues Julie who endlessly tells him to stay away from HIS house. Scotland Yard and even the Home Secretary is entangled in the story as Barry remains passionately persistent in trying to see Julie at HIS house from which he's repeatedly barred.Not the most convincing of plots but some nice lines - including a back and forth between Barry and his solicitor as they attempt to translate Anglo-American slang for each other to facilitate understanding.Yep, it's a "B+." Alpha has this super bargain DVD out as part of its very large release of old, pre-war flicks (I paid $4.99).So try and catch it.6/10.

wrbtu The wise-cracking Leslie Fenton (as "Barry") sounds quite a bit like James Cagney in his gangster days. The lovely Muriel Evans (as "Julie") looks quite a bit like Jean Harlow. The movie is not a true "Old Dark House" movie, because it doesn't have some of the elements required to qualify, but there is an old dark house, a hidden treasure, & lots of mystery. "House of Secrets" is interesting, the dialog is snappy with lots of current day (copyright 1936) slang, the acting is good, the sets are dark & spooky, & there are a few neat sub-plots (one involving Chicago mobsters). What drags this movie down a bit is the redundancy. I couldn't count the number of times Barry asks "What's going on?" & Julie (among many others) replies "I can't tell you." Although I was eventually able to guess the ending, it was difficult to figure out, & fun meanwhile. I rate it 6/10.