The Village Sleuth

Farm boy Charles Ray has read so many detective stories he imagines himself one himself. He tries for a job as house detective at Doctor Donald MacDonald's sanatorium, but winds up the janitor. This doesn't stop him from trying to be a detective. He makes friends with guest Winnie Westover, and discovers a series of mysterious clues. But of what? It's only when the husband of one of the patients disappears, and Miss Westover is accused of his murder, that Ray begins to figure out what they means.

It's one of the dozens of features that Ray made for Thomas Ince after he shot to fame in THE COWARD. Once again, he portrays a country bumpkin. Once again, he's held in low esteem. Once again, he redeems himself.

I didn't expect much from this one, but I was pleasantly surprised but the gawky good humor in the script by Agnes Christine Johnston, as well as the handsome Lasky Lighting of the opening segment by cameraman Chester Lyons. The copy of the movie was in excellent shape, and this good little programmer is well enhanced by David Drazin's score.