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Mystery of the Wax Museum

  • 19331933
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 17m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
5.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Monica Bannister in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
The disappearance of people and corpses leads a reporter to a wax museum and a sinister sculptor.
Play trailer3:32
1 Video
71 Photos
  • Horror
  • Mystery
  • Thriller
The disappearance of people and corpses leads a reporter to a wax museum and a sinister sculptor.The disappearance of people and corpses leads a reporter to a wax museum and a sinister sculptor.The disappearance of people and corpses leads a reporter to a wax museum and a sinister sculptor.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
5.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Curtiz
  • Writers
    • Don Mullaly(screen play)
    • Carl Erickson(screen play)
    • Charles Belden(from the story by)
  • Stars
    • Lionel Atwill
    • Fay Wray
    • Glenda Farrell
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Curtiz
  • Writers
    • Don Mullaly(screen play)
    • Carl Erickson(screen play)
    • Charles Belden(from the story by)
  • Stars
    • Lionel Atwill
    • Fay Wray
    • Glenda Farrell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 115User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Restoration Preview
    Trailer 3:32
    Restoration Preview

    Photos71

    Lionel Atwill, MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM, THE,  Warner Bros., 1933, **I.V.
    Lionel Atwill, MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM, THE,  Warner Bros., 1933, **I.V.
    Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray,  MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM, THE,  Warner Bros., 1933, **I.V.
    Lionel Atwill, Monica Bannister, and Fay Wray in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
    Gavin Gordon and Fay Wray in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
    Lionel Atwill in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
    Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
    Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
    Glenda Farrell in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
    Fay Wray in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
    Matthew Betz and Arthur Edmund Carewe in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
    Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lionel Atwill
    Lionel Atwill
    • Ivan Igoras Ivan Igor
    Fay Wray
    Fay Wray
    • Charlotte Duncanas Charlotte Duncan
    Glenda Farrell
    Glenda Farrell
    • Florenceas Florence
    Frank McHugh
    Frank McHugh
    • Jimas Jim
    Allen Vincent
    Allen Vincent
    • Ralph Burtonas Ralph Burton
    Gavin Gordon
    Gavin Gordon
    • George Wintonas George Winton
    Edwin Maxwell
    Edwin Maxwell
    • Joe Worthas Joe Worth
    Holmes Herbert
    Holmes Herbert
    • Dr. Rasmussenas Dr. Rasmussen
    Claude King
    Claude King
    • Mr. Galatalinas Mr. Galatalin
    Arthur Edmund Carewe
    Arthur Edmund Carewe
    • Prof. Darcyas Prof. Darcy
    Thomas E. Jackson
    Thomas E. Jackson
    • Detectiveas Detective
    • (as Thomas Jackson)
    DeWitt Jennings
    DeWitt Jennings
    • Police Captainas Police Captain
    Matthew Betz
    Matthew Betz
    • Hugoas Hugo
    Monica Bannister
    Monica Bannister
    • Joan Galeas Joan Gale
    Bull Anderson
    • Janitoras Janitor
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Austin
    Frank Austin
    • Winton's Valetas Winton's Valet
    • (uncredited)
    Max Barwyn
    Max Barwyn
    • Museum Visitoras Museum Visitor
    • (uncredited)
    Wade Boteler
    Wade Boteler
    • Ambroseas Ambrose
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Michael Curtiz
    • Writers
      • Don Mullaly(screen play)
      • Carl Erickson(screen play)
      • Charles Belden(from the story by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film was produced before the Production Code. When it was remade 20 years later, as House of Wax (1953), all references to drug use were removed, and a character was changed from a junkie to an alcoholic.
    • Goofs
      Ivan Igor says that Jean Paul Marat's assassin, Charlotte Corday, was his mistress. Not so - they had never met until she came to his office posing as a courier and quickly stabbed him to death. After her execution a few days later, she was found to be virgo intacta.
    • Quotes

      Florence: Listen, Joan Gale's body was swiped from the morgue, have you ever heard of such a thing as a death mask?

      Jim: I used to be married to one.

      Florence: Then it came to life and divorced you, I know all about that.

    • Alternate versions
      This film was shot in two versions. One camera unit shot the film in two-color Technicolor. A second camera unit shot the scenes at the same time in black and white. The black and white version was meant for theaters who could not afford the higher rental cost of the color prints...black and white prints were less costly to rent.
    • Connections
      Edited into Mame (1974)
    • Soundtracks
      Agitato
      (uncredited)

      Music by Bernhard Kaun

      Stock cue played over main titles

    User reviews115

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Origins of Wax
    Michael Curtiz has over 170 directing credits, including "The Jazz Singer." Of the films on that list which I have seen, this is my favourite. It's filled with some quite amazing dolly and camera work, the story is fun and the acting is solid.

    This story has had a long life. This film, was based on a play. In 1953, it was re-made as a Vincent Price vehicle, "House of Wax" in 3-D. And in 2005, it was re-made again as a teen slasher. The premise is solidly creepy.

    Glenda Farrell is hilarious as the young journalist. Her energy leaps off the screen. I guess audiences of 1933 needed quite a bit of comic relief to make it through the rest of this.

    Lionel Atwill's make-up is fantastic. It's no surprise that it was designed by a Westmore: Hollywood's premiere make-up family.

    This was shot in a two-colour Technicolor process which makes the entire film rather distinctive and moody. The fantastic film noir lighting adds to it as well.

    If you can find this, it's a definite must-see! There are so many images and ideas borrowed from it in later horror films it's interesting to see their origins.
    helpful•9
    0
    • scottlukaswilliams
    • Oct 9, 2005

    FAQ4

    • What is 'The Mystery of the Wax Museum' about?
    • Is 'The Mystery of the Wax Museum' based on a book?
    • When does the movie take place?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 18, 1933 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Mystery of the Wax Museum
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 17 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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