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Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)

The disappearance of people and corpses leads a reporter to a wax museum and a sinister sculptor.

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(screen play), (screen play) | 1 more credit »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
...
...
...
Jim
Allen Vincent ...
...
...
...
Dr. Rasmussen
Claude King ...
Mr. Galatalin
Arthur Edmund Carewe ...
Sparrow - Professor Darcy
Thomas E. Jackson ...
Detective (as Thomas Jackson)
...
Police Captain
Matthew Betz ...
Hugo
...
Joan Gale
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Storyline

In London, sculptor Ivan Igor struggles in vain to prevent his partner Worth from burning his wax museum...and his 'children.' Years later, Igor starts a new museum in New York, but his maimed hands confine him to directing lesser artists. People begin disappearing (including a corpse from the morgue); Igor takes a sinister interest in Charlotte Duncan, fiancée of his assistant Ralph, but arouses the suspicions of Charlotte's roommate, wisecracking reporter Florence. Written by Rod Crawford <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

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Certificate:

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Details

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Release Date:

18 February 1933 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Wax Museum  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Vitaphone)

Color:

(2-strip Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the title had been changed to "Mystery of the Wax Museum", the leaders on the original release prints still gave the title as "Wax Museum". See more »

Goofs

When Florence is studying the wax figure of Joan of Arc she glances down and sees a tag laying in a crate, when she picks it up she's not wearing gloves but is wearing them when she puts the tag in her pocket. See more »

Quotes

Charlotte Duncan: Ready, Florence?
Florence: Well, you two will have to struggle along without me, I've got a heavy date. No fouling in the clinches...
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Connections

Referenced in Vincent Price: The Sinister Image (1987) See more »

Soundtracks

Agitato
(uncredited)
Music by Bernhard Kaun
Stock cue played over main titles
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Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
Thirties Art Deco Masterpiece!
16 February 2001 | by (West Hollywood, CA USA) – See all my reviews

The beauty of two-strip Technicolor rendering sensual pastel tones and settings in London (1921) and New York (1933), art direction by legendary Anton Grot, Orry-Kelly gowns, Lionel Atwill at his maddest and Fay Wray in all her splendor, make this one of the finest horror films of not only the 30s but of all time. The pace of this film is fast, the comedy relief enjoyable but not detracting from its story. Atwill imbues his character of Ivan Igor with all the menace and evil he could muster (and that was calibrated in tons!) So far superior to its remake (HOUSE OF WAX with Vincent Price) that it leaves its competitor in the dust. Easily my favorite film to look at after New Year's Eve parties. Fantastic fun and candy for the eyes with all that streamlined Art Deco grandeur!


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