The Phantom Fiend (1932) Director: Maurice Elvey Studio: Sound City Films Starring: Ivor Novello, Elizabeth Allan, A.W. Baskcomb, Barbara Everest Release Date: May 1932 Runtime: 74 minutes Format: Black & White | Mono | Sound | Thriller | Drama Country: United Kingdom Language: English Genres: Thriller | Mystery | Crime | Drama Summary: The Phantom Fiend is a chilling British thriller centered around mysterious murders terrorizing London, with suspicion falling on a reclusive musician, played by Ivor Novello. As a boarding house becomes the backdrop for fear and paranoia, one young woman must choose between her instincts and the mounting evidence as she gets closer to the accused. A remake of the 1927 silent film The Lodger (also starring Novello), this early sound adaptation brings a haunting atmosphere and suspenseful pacing to the infamous story inspired by the Jack the Ripper murders. Background: Based on Marie Belloc Lowndes’ novel The Lodger, The Phantom Fiend is part of the rich lineage of early British suspense cinema. Ivor Novello reprises his ambiguous and brooding lodger role, five years after starring in Hitchcock’s silent version. Director Maurice Elvey leans into the gothic tone and slow-burning suspense made famous in the original story. This version is notable for its early sound film techniques and retains much of the theatrical staging typical of early 1930s productions, while expanding on character psychology with dialogue and sound. Trivia: Ivor Novello is one of the few actors to reprise the same role in both a silent film (The Lodger, 1927) and its sound remake. The film was produced at Twickenham Studios, a major site for early British sound films. The story has been adapted multiple times, with Hitchcock’s The Lodger remaining the most famous version. Some scenes mirror Hitchcock’s earlier work shot-for-shot, but this version explores the protagonist’s inner turmoil more explicitly through dialogue. One of the first British talkies to experiment with blending suspenseful scoring and atmospheric sound design. Hashtags: #ThePhantomFiend #IvorNovello #BritishThriller #ClassicMystery #EarlySoundFilm #TheLodger #1930sCinema #MauriceElvey #JackTheRipperInspired #VintageCrimeFilm #PublicDomainMovie #SuspenseCinema #TwickenhamStudios #ClassicBritishFilm #MurderMystery