Murder at Glen Athol (1936)

Frank B. Strayer frequently directed higher quality “B” films in the 1930s. His work in lesser productions resulted in his assignment to the Blondie series in the 1940s. Strayer’s Murder at Glen Athol (1936) is a tight little “B” mystery (affiliate link) worthy of his reputation for maintaining quality in less expensive productions.

John Milijan plays Bill Holt. Holt is a famous detective on vacation to write his memoirs. Like many plot devices at this time, Holt’s vacation is a setup for him to become involved in another murder investigation. At the estate next door, an adventuress is murdered. As usual, there is no lack of suspects. Complicating the case, a dead man is found in another room. The murdered man may or may not have killed the woman. So who killed him?

Suspicion falls on Jane Maxwell, played by Irene Ware. She is found unconscious in close proximity to the crimes. Holt has fallen for Jane and decides to solve the crime.

The sixty-seven minute film contains a few action scenes and several interesting subplots. The solution to the crime is also complicated enough to make it difficult for the viewer to solve. It is an entertaining way to spend an afternoon.

Irene Ware was born Irene Wahlberg in New York City on November 6, 1910. She was Miss United States of 1926 at 16 years of age. Primarily a star in “B” films during the 1930s, she retired from movies in 1940. She died in Orange County, California on March 11, 1993 at the age of 82.

In choosing from Strayer’s films that I have seen, I would put The Vampire Bat (1933) a little ahead of this film. However, it is a close second. I have watched this film several times.

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