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The Criminal Within

Original title: Murder at Glen Athol
  • 1935
  • Approved
  • 1h 7m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
339
YOUR RATING
John Miljan and Irene Ware in The Criminal Within (1935)
WhodunnitCrimeMysteryRomance

A famous detective is invited to a swanky party at an elegant mansion, but before the night is over he finds himself involved with gangsters, blackmail and murder.A famous detective is invited to a swanky party at an elegant mansion, but before the night is over he finds himself involved with gangsters, blackmail and murder.A famous detective is invited to a swanky party at an elegant mansion, but before the night is over he finds himself involved with gangsters, blackmail and murder.

  • Director
    • Frank R. Strayer
  • Writers
    • Norman Lippincott
    • John W. Krafft
  • Stars
    • John Miljan
    • Irene Ware
    • Iris Adrian
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    339
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Frank R. Strayer
    • Writers
      • Norman Lippincott
      • John W. Krafft
    • Stars
      • John Miljan
      • Irene Ware
      • Iris Adrian
    • 17User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos48

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    Top cast22

    Edit
    John Miljan
    John Miljan
    • Bill Holt
    Irene Ware
    Irene Ware
    • Jane Maxwell
    Iris Adrian
    Iris Adrian
    • Muriel Randel
    Noel Madison
    Noel Madison
    • Gus Colleti
    Oscar Apfel
    Oscar Apfel
    • Reuben Marshall
    Barry Norton
    Barry Norton
    • Tom Randel
    Harry Holman
    Harry Holman
    • Campbell Snowden
    Betty Blythe
    Betty Blythe
    • Ann Randel
    James P. Burtis
    James P. Burtis
    • Mike 'Jeff' Jefferies
    • (as James Burtis)
    Lew Kelly
    Lew Kelly
    • Police Sgt. Olsen
    Wilson Benge
    Wilson Benge
    • Simpson - Butler
    E.H. Calvert
    E.H. Calvert
    • District Attorney McDougal
    • (as Capt. Calvert)
    Stanley Blystone
    Stanley Blystone
    • Henchman Joe
    • (uncredited)
    Sidney Bracey
    Sidney Bracey
    • Jenkins - Butler
    • (uncredited)
    Don Brodie
    Don Brodie
    • Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    Lester Dorr
    Lester Dorr
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    James Eagles
    • Harry Randel
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Ellis
    Paul Ellis
    • Tony Cosmato
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Frank R. Strayer
    • Writers
      • Norman Lippincott
      • John W. Krafft
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews17

    5.8339
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    Featured reviews

    7ilprofessore-1

    Forever Iris

    Before this film gets down to its real purpose as a standard Poverty Row low-budget who-done-it, there are a few scenes superbly acted and stolen by the young Iris Adrian as a mad cap society girl. Iris went on and on for years playing bit parts as a blowzy wise-cracking loud mouth in another 160 films but this film demonstrates what a first-rate actress she was. She might have gone on to a more brilliant career had anyone recognized how gifted she was. Irene Ware, the leading lady here, is very beautiful and very wooden. Just another face, but Iris is something else.
    5ksf-2

    story is so so. pretty rough picture and sound quality

    In free tubi, it's called murder at glen athol, but in imdb and europe, it's the criminal within. Detective holt, on vacation, attends a party which gets out of control, ending with a couple murders. Muriel, the overly friendly next door neighbor, is caught up in all this. Now it's up to bill to see if he can solve it before the local cops. The gangsters are selling booze to the rich, and trying to make a profit. Who else is involved? The doctor? The police? This one is a pretty complicated plot... the story goes all over the place. The picture and sound quality are pretty bad. It does have subtitles, but because it was voice recognition, it frequently guesses the wrong words. They actually discuss fingerprints, but aren't able to get good prints that will help. And it has kind of an odd rushed ending. Bill miljan had started in the silent films. Was in tons of films, but usually in supporting roles. I recognize many of the titles where he participated, but played mostly background roles. Directed by frank strayer.... he had directed a bunch of the "blondie" films. Based on the novel by norm lippincott.
    8binapiraeus

    'Whodunit' at its VERY best!

    "Murder at Glen Athol" (although it could have been anywhere, but never mind, the location sounds interesting - and the MURDER, or rather the murders, certainly are MORE than interesting!) really has got ALL the ingredients of an absolutely first-class 'whodunit', with first and best a REALLY clever, intricate plot that's SURE to make you rack your brains a good deal, but just about 'fair' enough (no clues being held back or anything like that) for an eager and 'experienced' crime fan to find the solution.

    And the moderate means of production DON'T change the fact that this movie is WAY superior to most of the other B murder mysteries of the time (and that's certainly saying something, because the 30s were the very apogee of the genre), and can even compete easily with quite some of the best A movie productions of the type! The acting is marvelous (although John Miljan, Irene Ware, and even Iris Adrian today remain familiar names probably only to real B movie friends - and yet they did better than MANY of their colleagues who are still famous today), and the film as a whole is very neatly balanced between murder mystery, gangster action, a touch of romance and a good dose of humor.

    It's a REAL shame that today only absolute freaks seem to know of this little masterpiece (even I myself didn't know about its existence until recently); because it could provide GREAT suspense and entertainment for EVERY fan of classic movies - so if you ever come across it, DON'T miss it; and don't forget to make it known to others as well!
    6BaronBl00d

    Good Little-Known Thriller

    Reuben Marshall plays a detective on vacation in a ritzy suburb writing about his exploits when invited to a party where death visits a couple of the guests. Marshall, his Irish sidekick in tow, discovers who the culprit is in this very interesting little mystery dealing with an above-average mystery plot. The story has several red herrings laced into it and is compelling for its age and era. The acting is nothing spectacular, but everyone concerned does a workmanlike job. There is also a generous dose of humour within the mystery. Some of the characterizations are very one-dimensional, yet, as a whole, the picture is generally well-crafted. I think it is odd that the film does not have a little more noteriety as it is a much better film than many mysteries of the same period.
    4cherold

    bad movie with one great performance

    I almost gave up on this no-budget whodunit in the first 10 minutes. It was dull, flat, blandly staged and indifferently acted. Then Iris Adrian breezed into the room as a flirtatious gold digger who might as well have been wearing a neon sign saying "trouble."

    Adrian's scenes were genuinely engaging, and if she'd had more screen time that alone could have made this movie worth watching. But she doesn't have that many scenes, and the dull script and convoluted, shapeless mystery had nothing else to recommend it.

    By the way - this movie has two titles "Murder at Glen Athol" and "The Criminal Within" and neither makes much sense. No one ever talks about glen Athol and the criminal within doesn't make any sense in the context of the movie - they were clearly just trying to come up with a title that would intrigue people.

    Anyway, in spite of Adrian's performance I can't recommend this movie.

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    Related interests

    Jude Law in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
    Whodunnit
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Holt and his bride sail for their honeymoon in Europe on the RMS Queen Mary.
    • Quotes

      Muriel Randel: I'm picking you up tomorrow afternoon in the roadster. We'll go places and drink things!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are displayed as pages of a book.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 28, 1936 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Murder at Glen Athol
    • Production company
      • Invincible Pictures Corp.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 7m(67 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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