The House of Secrets

Likable cad Fenton stars as an affable, assertive gent who inherits a mansion following the death of a distant uncle. When he attempts to take possession of the mansion, he discovers a group of shady characters occupying the house, including a sultry beauty (Evans) with whom he had a bizarre encounter on the ship across the Atlantic. Along with his detective pal (Blackmer), the pair soon discovers that there's more than meets the eye to the supposedly haunted house, its strange occupancy (a raving lunatic) and a gang of murderous thieves converging on an alleged hidden treasure.

It's all happening at a brisk pace, with fast-talking Fenton quite a gregarious chap, Evans an attractive and mysterious vice, while in my opinion, Blackmer was the best performer, displaying a professionalism and ease that made him a bankable talent for six decades in a long and illustrious career.

While the conclusion is a little hackneyed, there's some effort gone into the neatly woven plot, with all loose ends tying together, albeit a little conveniently. It's the strength of the three leads (Fenton, Evans and Blackmer) that elevates this run-of-the-mill tale to average status.