''At the Villa Rose'' is a 1920 British silent

detective film A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, i ...

based on the 1910 novel '' At the Villa Rose'' by British politician and author A.E.W. Mason (considered his most famous mysteryWorkman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 212..). The feature was directed by

Maurice Elvey Maurice Elvey (11 November 1887 – 28 August 1967) was one of the most prolific film directors in British history. He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During the silent film era he directed as many as twenty films per year. He a ...

and stars

Manora Thew Manora Alice Thew (12 April 1891 – 12 April 1987) was an English actress. She was born in Negapatam, Madras Presidency, British India, the daughter of Alice Maude ''née'' Turner (1865–1925) and Cuthbert Harrison Thew (1859–1928). In 1911 ...

and Langhorn Burton. A print of the film survives at the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...

archives. The novel, which introduced the fictional character of French Police Inspector Hanaud, was so popular, it was filmed four times, the 1920 silent film being the first. The other three film versions were sound versions, two appearing in 1930, and the last in 1940. Although the film is mainly a murder mystery, there are some horror-oriented moments such as a creepy seance scene and a somewhat violent strangulation scene in it as well.

Plot

Inspector Hanaud is asked to investigate a murder in which a young female spiritualist is accused of murdering her wealthy employer in a Riviera mansion and then running away. She is innocent, but the villain is able to make her seem guilty. Hanaud uncovers the truth, that the murder was the result of a jewel robbery gone wrong.

Cast

*Eva Westlake - Madame Dauvray *J.L. Boston - Besnard *Joan Beverley - Adele Rossignol *Kate Gurney - Helene *

- Celia Harland *

Teddy Arundell Teddy Arundell (1873 in Devon – 5 November 1922, in London) was a British film actor of the silent era. Selected filmography * ''The Lyons Mail'' (1916) * ''Justice'' (1917) * ''Nelson'' (1918) * '' The Swindler'' (1918) * '' The Splendid Cow ...

Inspector Hanaud Inspector Gabriel Hanaud is a fictional French detective depicted in a series of five novels and one novella by the British writer A. E. W. Mason. He has been described as the "first major fiction police detective of the Twentieth Century". B ...

Norman Page Norman Page (born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshiredied 4 July 1935 in London) was a British actor. He is best known for his portrayal of David Lloyd George, Prime Minister during the First World War, in the 1918 film ''The Life Story of David Lloyd ...

- Julius Ricardo *Armand Lenders - Perichet * Langhorn Burton - Harry Weathermill

Critical reception

Allmovie wrote, "British novelist A.E.W. Mason is best known for his jingoistic adventure story ''

The Four Feathers ''The Four Feathers'' is a 1902 adventure novel by British writer A. E. W. Mason that has inspired many films of the same title. In December 1901, ''Cornhill Magazine'' announced the title as one of two new serial stories to be published in th ...

''. ''At the Villa Rose'' is a lesser but no less florid Mason work. Manora Thew stars as a phony medium, working the suckers in Monaco."

References

External links

*
''At the Villa Rose'' at BFI Screenonline
1920 films 1920 mystery films British detective films British silent feature films Films based on British novels Films directed by Maurice Elvey British black-and-white films British mystery films 1920s British films Silent mystery films Silent thriller films {{mystery-film-stub