1937's "The Man Who Cried Wolf" was among the handful of non genre titles in Universal's popular SHOCK! package of classic horror films issued to television in the late 50s, and easily one of the most frequently viewed. I myself caught up with it on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater on December 31 1977, ringing in the new year with Chilly Billy and the Chiller family, the third feature in the show's very last triple bill (following 1967's "Cauldron of Blood" and 1946's "The Spider Woman Strikes Back"). An ingeniously simple storyline that surprisingly was never remade, starring Lewis Stone as publicity seeking ham actor Lawrence Fontaine, who annoys the local police with a series of phony confessions, setting up a murder of his own he's been planning for 20 years to avenge the death of his ex-wife. Unfortunately, the victim's stepson (Tom Brown), beloved fellow actor in Fontaine's play "The Death Cry," becomes the top suspect arrested for the crime, leading to a frantic search for the incriminating murder gun, which was hidden by Fontaine's protective valet (Forrester Harvey), recently killed in an auto accident. In trying to convince authorities that he's not the nutcase they believe him to be, Fontaine spends the rest of the picture marking time, the lack of incident responsible for the sluggish pace when the film's momentum should be building. Even after he recovers the incriminating gun, he refuses to divulge the motive behind his crime, having burned the letters that showed why he did it. Marjorie Main is cast against type as the victim's sister, and among the unbilled are such familiar faces as John Hamilton, Russell Hicks, Eddie Kane, Selmer Jackson, Edwin Stanley, Stanley Andrews, Pierre Watkin, and Ernie Adams. Universal was still in horror limbo then, the genre's revival still over a year away with "Son of Frankenstein," the studio losing money with a nonstop parade of 'B' programmers that have been largely forgotten over time.
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HotToastyRag5 January 2020It's unfortunate that The Man Who Cried Wolf hasn't been remastered, as it could easily have been a classic thriller known to modern audiences the way Strangers on a Train is. This forgotten classic is riveting and has likable characters you care about. An actor confesses to murders, knowing he'll be discovered innocent and thought of as a joke by the police force. What's his point? He's planning on committing a murder in the future, and he wants the police to scratch him off the suspect list immediately. Isn't that brilliant?
The tour-de-force role is eaten up by Lewis Stone, the man soon to be known as the wise, calm Judge Hardy who never has an emotional outburst. This is a fantastic, meaty change of pace for Lew, so if you only think of him as tired and resigned, you've got to check this one out. You might think he's a bit old to take on a leading role and carry the entire movie, but keep in mind he' had gray hair ever since he was twenty, so his locks are more a statement of elegance than age. This is a very enjoyable old movie, with lots of dramatic intrigue, a very fitting title, and a compelling story with twists and turns. Rent it during a rainy afternoon! You'll also get to see a pre-hick Marjorie Main. This was one of her first speaking roles, and she plays a wealthy, corrupt snob, the exact opposite of how she was throughout the rest of her career!
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. About 5 minutes before the end, there's a montage and the camera swirls a bit; that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!" -
jaybee-326 August 1999A truly interesting plot elevates this low budget mystery to a B-movie classic. Stone confesses to crimes he did not commit. Then he murders an old enemy he suspects was responsible for his wife's death. He confesses to this crime and the police do not believe him. Familiar 30s actors all over this one. Nice job by everyone.
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searchanddestroy-127 July 2023This plot, scheme reminds me something.... I don't know if you have seen BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, from director Fritz Lang, or even John Sturges' THE MAN WHO DARED...Those two similar topics are not exactly the same as this one, but as twisted, daring f...up. The pure example of what B pictures are really worth for: unusual topics. I am not sure that this very story has been remade; I think it would be interesting to check it out, but you have to be lucky to find another film with the same plot. I won't spoil this move, an early picture from the future adventure movie specialist Lewis R Foster. I highly recommend it.
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jarrodmcdonald-124 February 2022A copy of the film exists online and my guess is that it's an old syndicated print. Fortunately, it is in fairly good viewing condition. It occurred to me watching it that it must have been considered more than just a routine programmer in its day because Lewis Stone was borrowed from MGM. Stone was one of L. B. Mayer's buddies, and he was rarely loaned out. So Mayer must have thought this was a good opportunity for his pal Stone to show off his acting chops.
The story is sort of a Stella Dallas type drama. Only in this case, the young adult son (Tom Brown) has been separated from his father, played by Stone, and brought up by another man who had married his mother. Stone never planted roots, moving from town to town, as a much in demand stage actor. Ironically, he comes to a town years later where his son lives. The son is a fan and wants to join the ranks of esteemed thespians. Stone pulls a few strings to get him a featured part in a play that his troupe is performing.
Meanwhile, Stone has been wanting revenge on a man who had betrayed him years earlier. He has carefully concocted a plan to create a perfect alibi and murder his enemy. The plan involves his confessing to two other murders, which he could not have possibly done. This causes the local police chief to think he's a crackpot actor trying to gain publicity. The cop warns Stone to refrain from any more false confessions since he could be arrested for perverting the course of justice.
We then get to the part where Stone kills his intended target, He goes to the police station, and he turns himself in for murder. Of course the chief thinks this is another phony confession, which it isn't, and dismisses him. Now this is where we get to the good part...because Stone's son then becomes the main suspect. Knowing his son is innocent of a crime that he (Stone) actually committed, he has to work hard to prove to the authorities he really did do the deed.
This is an interesting riff on the old boy crying wolf tale, and it's fun to see Stone enact the predicament that comes from not being believed but needing very much to be believed. Especially when it becomes a matter of exonerating someone who could get the electric chair. At the end of the story, when Stone is finally believed, we get some very bittersweet moments between father and son. This is a rewarding film to watch, because it brings home the whole idea of what parents will do to protect their children and what sacrifices are sometimes necessary. -
Thespian Lewis Stone (Fontaine) keeps presenting himself at the police station to Robert Gleckler (Capt Reid) every time a murder is committed to confess to the crime. Gleckler thinks he is a nutcase seeking publicity for the play that he is performing in. Also in the play is Barbara Read (Nan) who wants a part for her insipid and bland aspiring actor boyfriend Tom Brown (Tommy). It turns out that Tom is Stone's son but Tom doesn't know this. Lewis has some long-standing beef with Jameson Thomas (Bradley) that leads to murder.
Well, it's funny how Stone keeps confessing to crimes but that's all that is memorable. You can guess how the story is going to pan out which I did.
It is weird how people in real life confess to crimes that they didn't commit and it does happen. It made me think about some funny situations that the police must come across and I thought about joining for a laugh. Then I realized that it's not such a funny job after all. I have heard that someone in the UK who has just got a job as a train guard has been offered a salary of £35,000.00! I might do that for a while - "Tickets please!", "Mind the doors!" and blow a whistle - what a cushy number. The world is crazy.