Death from a Distance (1935) User Reviews

Amusingly Good Period Piece from Invincible Films

[lawprof · 6/10 · 5 April 2004]

Marred on a DVD transfer by a poor soundtrack that makes some dialogue unintelligible, "Death from a Distance" is a 1935 B crime story that has some good acting along with the inevitable cliches that reflect the times.

A doctor is shot to death during a planetarium lecture. The killer is in the room and the audience is there when the cops arrive, a wisecracking homicide lieutenant in charge. A pretty gal reporter tangles with the cop and her investigative skills are equal to her blatant flirting.

In 71 minutes the story moves by small leaps and not great bounds to a clever uncovering of the killer. Some potted astronomical theory is central to solving the case.

Every stereotype from that era is present: smart detective and dumb as dishwater detective, hardboiled city room editor and ambitious female reporter, gentle Viennese scientist and the "Hindu," a man with a past. And there's more.

This movie won't make either the AMC or TCM channels, not in a century of retrospectives. It's available for as little as $5.99 and as a glance backwards into the time when the Hollywood studio giants co-existed with producers of second-rate features, "Death from a Distance" is a minor treat. But it's a treat nonetheless.

6/10 (for its genre and period).

Not a Bad Planetarium Movie

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 22 October 2007]

The setting is the real central figure in this film. A murder is committed during a planetarium show held for a group of well known scientists. A hard boiled detective and an impulsive female reporter set out to solve the crime. Actually, she just seems to get in the way and must be regularly lectured by the big guy. The problem is that no one has the ability to have committed the crime. A series of diversions and set ups take place, trying to lure the real criminal out. There are professional jealousies at work which will hopefully result in an Achilles' heel. The story is slow and drawn out and the characters are often silly and stereotypical. Still, I found myself watching it carefully because I wanted to know how the murder was committed. if your not too fussy and don't mind a period piece, it's not too bad.

Location, location

[westerfieldalfred · 6/10 · 26 January 2014]

Death from a distance is dominated by two very impressive sets: the planetarium and observatory. The long shot intimates this takes place at the Griffith Observatory. However, the front doors to the Griffith planetarium don't match. Further, the structure and telescope in the observatory don't either. Since there are no similar sites in southern California, I must conclude they were studio sets. Invincible Pictures were distributed by Chesterfield, the latter being famous for renting high class sets at major studios. The conclusion seems to be that Invincible did, too. It would be interesting to find out which film the sets were designed for.

For a poverty row mystery the film is well above average with procedurals closer to actual police work. The Charlie Chan gathering climax is handled better than any Chan film. The suspects include several personal favorites: Robert Fraser, the boss villain in many a western and plantation owner in White Zombie; and Wheeler Oakman, the "henchman's henchman" in dozens of B films, especially The Phantom Empire.

This is a good mystery of its type, one worth an hour of your time.

Murder in a planetarium!

[cinema_universe · 14 July 2003]

The film's title implies that death strikes from afar, and in a clever way, it does...

This low-budget little whodunit will NEVER be aired on TV, so you will have to find a rental, or more likely, buy a copy to see how this ingenious little murder is worked out.

I won't spoil it for anyone by telling you that the victim is in the audience of a planetarium, and naturally-- so is the murderer! The police are called in, and the entire story is acted out pretty much on that one set.

Filmed on one of the lowest budgets possible, "Death From A Distance" will still keep you watching, and guessing, right to the surprise ending.

Not bad, to say the least. To B-movie mystery buffs, I say: Buy it, if you can find it, and enjoy.

Mystery Misfire

[wes-connors · 3/10 · 8 May 2009]

"A murder is committed at the Forest Park Planetarium during a lecture by the celebrated Astronomer, Professor Ernst Einfeld (Lee Kohlmar). The fatal shot is fired in semi-darkness while a distinguished audience observes the stars projected on the dome above them. A hardboiled homicide detective (Russell Hopton) trades verbal jabs with a wisecracking gal reporter (Lola Lane) as they attempt to unravel the mysterious killing," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis. In a very dull manner.

The "gal reporter" character played by Lola Lane was, in part, writer Jerry Siegel's inspiration for Superman's Girl Friend, "Lois Lane"; however, Ms. Lane's later "Torchy Blane" characterization is a more accurate reference point. Perhaps, "Death from a Distance is most notable as featuring the penultimate performance of George F. Marion (as Jim Gray), who so memorably played the father of Pauline Lord (1921), Blanche Sweet (1923), and Greta Garbo (1930) in Eugene O'Neill's "Anna Christie".

*** Death from a Distance (9/17/35) Frank Strayer ~ Russell Hopton, Lola Lane, George F. Marion

A solid piece of work from 'Poverty Row'

[binapiraeus · 7/10 · 5 February 2014]

"Death from a Distance" (which in the end, as we almost suspected, proves a QUITE appropriate title) may be no masterpiece of mystery, but it's a very solid crime puzzle which, like so often in the 30s, teams a cop with a girl reporter to solve the murder.

The performances, especially by Lola Lane as the cheeky, fresh young reporter, are not at all bad: quite convincing, and containing a good dose of humor! Not that the murder case isn't handled seriously: the police methods are portrayed in a realistic way - while, on the other 'side', the newsroom's atmosphere with all its male and female news hounds, who are sometimes nerve-racking, sometimes PRETTY helpful for the cops, is once again depicted in a wonderfully authentic way.

But the most stunning feature of this particular movie that otherwise would be one of many average 30s' murder mysteries are the settings of the murder scene: here we actually get to see how a planetarium of the 1930s looked like and worked - certainly a kind of time document today...

It's watchable but not much more

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 2 April 2008]

During a lecture at a planetarium, a man is murdered. However, despite this occurring in a room full of people, it isn't clear exactly who is responsible.

This is a super-low budget film that isn't horrible, but it isn't particularly good either. Much of the fault for it being such a poor film are the result of poor writing (with a WAY over-complicated murder scheme), an annoying and clichéd character (Lola Lane playing a very stereotypical "pushy female reporter") and an overall lack of energy. In fact, as I watched the film, I kept found myself falling asleep because there wasn't much to interest me and the lack of incidental music made the film seem very static and subdued. As far as I am concerned, that was an hour of my life I wish I could have back! Amateurish but watchable--not exactly a glowing endorsement.

Has its moments!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 7 August 2014]

Frank Strayer's direction here is a grade higher than his usual humdrum level. As usual however, he eschews reverse angles, but on this occasion he has gone easy on close-ups. Most of the scenes are handled in rather long takes, but the camera-work has more movement here than is the director's norm. The movie also exhibits some typical trademarks of Invincible Pictures. Most of the action is confined to the one set, although it is well designed and large enough to accommodate a rather extensive cast of character players and extras. As usual, there is no background music at all except under the opening and end credits. Fortunately, this lack is skilfully disguised by the brisk pace of the plot. The cast too is not without interest, although the identity of the killer is pretty obvious. All told, however, the script is more accomplished than then usual Invincible effort, thanks not so much to its routine plot but to some bright, crisp dialogue, expertly delivered here by Russell Hopton and Lola Lane. George Marion must be included in our praises too. In fact his presence alone is worth at least half the price of the DVD.

Very Pleasant, But Not A Fair Mystery

[boblipton · 5/10 · 23 July 2019]

While Professor Lee Kohlmar is lecturing about Arcturus to an invitation-only group at the planetarium, a member of the audience is shot dead. Police detective Russel Hopton is called in. He orders reporter Lola Lane out of the room and questions the crowd. Then he sends everyone home and asks Miss Lane for a date. She slaps his face.

It's a nicely done murder mystery under the direction of Frank R. Strayer. Good actors, a decent script and a good pace keeps things rolling along until.... well, before the second murder -- there's always a second murder in a good mystery, although usually the second victim is the first person you suspect -- I had figured out the victim of the second murder, and the method. Since I was far enough ahead, I started to figure out who committed the murders.

Even though there was a twist that surprised me -- always a good thing -- I soon settled on the two people who most likely had committed the murders, just by the structure of this movie. The trouble was, I couldn't figure out why; that was only revealed after the answer to the mystery had been revealed.

Well, that's not fair. That's not playing the game. So although everything else was pretty good for a cheap B murder mystery, with good players and even a twist, even though it was very watchable, in the end, it failed as a mystery. Pity.

a complicated plot but in the end satisfying

[kidboots · 6/10 · 17 August 2009]

Lola Lane was a very versatile actress. She was one of the Lane sisters and came to films in the first rush of early sound musicals. Unfortunately the next year musicals were out but Lola stayed and started her acting apprenticeship in programmers. Before she was "discovered" again as one of the "Four Daughters" (1939)(the wise- cracking one) she had spent the 30s building up a respectable career in films like "Death From a Distance", in which she played sassy reporter Kay Palmer (curiously devoid of much make-up). I, also like another reviewer, felt the plot was too complicated.

A renowned scientist, Professor Ernst Einfield (Lee Kohlmar) an eccentric genius, is delivering a lecture to a select audience at the Forest Park Planetarium (props were borrowed from the set of "The Invisible Ray"). A gunshot is heard in the darkness and when the lights go on, Dr. Stone, a drugs manufacturer, is found dead. At first no one can agree where the shot was fired from but it is decided it had come from the back of the room.

"OK sister -what's your name" - "If I'm your sister, you know it already"!!! Kay Palmer (Lola Lane), a reporter who is covering the lecture, goes rushing from the room hoping to get a scoop. Because of an altercation with Detective Mallory (Russell Hopton), when she is finally able to phone in her story, she blasts the police's (and Mallory's) inefficiency. There are many suspects - Langsdale (Wheeler Oakman) was the doctor's personal secretary but he confesses he has been in prison for assault and was only released a week ago. Ahmed (John Davidson) a suspicious type who claims he didn't know Dr. Stone but in reality came there to kill him. There is also John Gray (George Marion Snr, who was quite good as the trusting father in Greta Garbo's "Anna Christie" (1930)) a watchman who has been employed there over 10 years.

"Well, well, well, together again. It must be old home - icide week". Meanwhile relations between the press and the police are at an all time low. There have been a few editorials by Kay ridiculing the police. When she finds out that Professor Einfield is going to go into a trance and name the killer, she gets a front page story, realising only too late that the killer will also read it. The film is wrapped up in a novel way. Einfield is found murdered - only he isn't!!! When everyone is out of the room Mallory explains to Kay (they are now friends) that the hoax was done to shake up the real killer. Later on, to everyone's amazement, walking out of the darkness, the "corpse" makes a surprise re-appearance. The killer then breaks down and confesses ("it's lies, it's all lies I tell you") -his histrionics at the end are all explained.

There is quite a lot of witty dialogue going back and forth between Kay and Mallory.

Creaky murder mystery

[gridoon2024 · 4/10 · 6 March 2013]

My opinion is almost certainly influenced by the picture and especially the sound quality of the DVD print I saw (let's just say that at least 30% of the dialogue is hard to hear), but although I'm a big fan of this genre, I didn't really care for this movie. Many of the characters are quite hard to tell apart, and it doesn't help that they're played by a cast of complete strangers to all but the most fanatic early-1930s film buffs. To be honest, the only member of the cast I recognized was Lola Lane, who plays the stereotypical "nosy" reporter; though you can see sparks of the "Torchy Blane" personality (whom Lane actually played once herself a few years later), her character remains clueless throughout the film as the male detective figures out everything about the case. All in all, "Death From A Distance" is a long, dull 70 minutes. *1/2 out of 4.

A Killer from Space?

[dbborroughs · 8/10 · 25 April 2004]

During a lecture at a planetarium one of the people in the audience is killed. The police are called and with the help of, or possibly despite the interference of a female reporter the killer is eventually unmasked.

If nothing else this film has a unique location which is played up a great deal as the film milks it for all its worth. What is worth is plenty since this is a snappy mystery with great dialog and a decent mystery. The acting is good and the cast is made up of troopers who you've probably seen in countless other films.

This is one of those movie that's worth seeking out and worth buying. Alpha Video is putting it out shortly in a cheap edition and I'll be picking up copies for friends who like the really good mysteries. Keep an eye on Amazon, you won't be disappointed.

Classic Crime

[blumdeluxe · 7/10 · 22 March 2017]

"Death from a distance" is exactly what you expect from an old-fashioned crime movie. It tells the story of a murder in an observatory and how the small circle of suspects are investigated to unmask the true criminal.

It thereby follows a scheme as known from many more or less similar movies. While of course some of the characters are a bit out of time nowadays and some references are hard to overlook, the plot itself is build up in an entertaining way that keeps you guessing. There are several wrong leads woven into the murder investigation and it somehow warmed my heart a bit to see a crime movie that really puts its focus on those investigations and not so much on fast action, as many more modern ones do.

You can see from the mere production year that this is really an old movie. To find it entertaining you need some open-mindedness towards the early days of filmmaking. But if you do so, you hereby get a title that doesn't pretend to be more than it is, a very solid Crime Classic.

one big yawn

[ksf-2 · 5/10 · 20 October 2022]

The sound and picture are just terrible! This badly needs a restoration, but at this point, probably unlikely. During a presentation on the night sky, someone in the audience is knocked off. Russ hopton is detective mallory, from the police, questioning everyone. Kay palmer (lola lane) is from the local rag to invest-y-gate. And of course, none of the witnesses agree on a description of the suspect. The coppers and the reporters all run in circles for a while. I call shenanigans on the story and ending. It's all too silly and unlikely.if the sound and picture quality weren't so awful, this probably would have been parodied on mystery science theater! Even the captions aren't synched up... sometimes they are ahead, and sometimes behind. The most interesting thing here is that someone's last name is "griffith".. and this came out the same year that the griffith observatory opened in los angeles! Directed by frank strayer. Story by john kraft. Hopton offed himself ten years after this film, at age 45.

Only The Stars and Lola Lane Shine

[dougdoepke · 21 April 2019]

Routine whodunit distinguished by unusual setting-- an observatory with a big window on the stars. So who shot Dr.Stone while a gallery of spectators sat entranced by a ceiling of stellar lights. Detective Mallory is doing his best to find out, but it's all rather puzzling with no apparent motive. Then too, comedy relief from Det. Regan's no help, while feisty girl journalist Palmer wants a scoop no matter what. So how will it all turn out, which amounts to the "why" as much as the "who".

Too bad actress Lane doesn't get more screentime. She's a lively presence that picks up the often bland proceedings. In fact, her snappy lines aimed at Mallory remain a highlight. Then too, Prof. Einfeld and fumbling flunkie Jim lend some color to an otherwise rather bland male cast. Unfortunately, director Strayer adds nothing in the way of atmosphere, usually an important element in a whodunit. Here it would have been easy given the exotic setting. At the same time, few scenes take place outside the observatory. I wish that crucial setting were credited by IMDB. Looks to me like the giant telescope had to be real, and my guess would be Mt. Palomar Observatory also located in southern California.

Anyway, the novel touches remain about the only reason to catch up with this uneven indie production.

"As you all realize ladies and gentlemen, one of you has committed a murder".

[classicsoncall · 3/10 · 18 October 2010]

To give you an idea of what an impression this film made on me, I saw it this morning, and couldn't even remember the title when I sat down to write this review. Fortunately I keep notes, but in this case it was a moot point. Most of the dialog in the story was unintelligible, and what I could glean from the principals led me to the conclusion that the picture was twice as long as it needed to be. The real puzzler more than mid-way through had the murder weapon just lying around in plain sight in an observatory that served as the location of the story. Apparently the murderer was out for revenge, something about his son dying at the hands of the doctor he rubbed out during the opening scene. Curious, but I didn't read any other reviewer mentioning this bit of trivia. Maybe I saw a different movie. I could go back and watch it again, but as they say, it's not in the stars.

Drawn-out murder mystery

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 28 February 2017]

DEATH FROM A DISTANCE is a US murder mystery made in 1935 and featuring a hardboiled cop teaming up with a female reporter. By teaming up I mean that he typically seems to lecture her around in a mildly sexist fashion while she sticks up for herself. The opening murder sequence is the best part of the film as it takes place in a planetarium during a lecture by an astronomer. A gun fires and an audience member lies dead, so the detective has to follow the clues and solve the mystery.

This opening scene is reminiscent of Hitchcock and actually predates a similar moment in his version of THE 39 STEPS. Unfortunately the rest of the film is largely slow-paced and rather bloated with red herrings and the like. It's not the kind of film to engross you, rather the type of film to fall asleep to. The two main stars do their best but DEATH FROM A DISTANCE is a film that's dated more than anything else.

A planetarium mystery that's a bit nebulous

[csteidler · 10 August 2011]

Death from a Distance features a murder at a planetarium. As most of the film's action takes place in the one large room, it's probably a good thing that the room contains a large telescope and a ceiling painted with stars, a setting unique enough to remain somewhat viewable for 70 minutes. The lead characters are not as unique—Russell Hopton is the police detective investigating, Lola Lane the girl reporter getting in his way. Hopton and Lane do their best to put some life into their roles, but the bits of witty banter they are given are somewhat few and far between.

The other characters fare little better. Most lively is Lee Kohlmar as Professor Einfeld, who is supposedly one of the three greatest scientists in the world and is therefore rather unkempt and absent-minded but ultimately sharp enough to aid in solving the mystery. There are, of course, also a dumb assistant detective, a couple of scientists with shady pasts, and a curator. (By the way, Einfeld also speaks in a European accent and has a messy shock of hair. Ein-what?)

The murder device is cleverly conceived, I have to say. However, the detective work and the uncovering of clues are all somewhat hazy. Ultimately, Death from a Distance lacks snap, but the mystery is at least deep enough to keep us watching until the end.

Mystery thriller from another planet(arium)

[searchanddestroy-1 · 7 March 2024]

Yes, this is an absolute alien mystery thriller, the over the best of bland director Frank Strayer, whose films are not that widely known and even less shown. VAMPIRE BAT was rather famous for thirties horror films buffs, but that's all. Some of talkies Strayer's movies are in the public domain now, in terms of copyrights elements, even available on some DVD retailers but I am sure no one watches them. This one is a mystery, as I have told, yarn, as there there thousands of them in those decades, before TV industry takes it for its own purpose. I am not a great fan of those most of the time boring plots, but this one is very amusing, intriguing, unusual.