The Death Kiss

The Death Kiss
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Edwin L. Marin
Written by	Gordon Kahn Barry Barringer
Based on	The Death Kiss 1932 novel byMadelon St. Dennis
Produced by	E. W. Hammons,Burt Kelly
Starring	David Manners Adrienne Ames Bela Lugosi John Wray Vince Barnett Edward Van Sloan
Cinematography	Norbert Brodine
Edited by	Rose Loewinger
Production company	Sono Art-World Wide Pictures
Distributed by	Sono Art-World Wide Pictures
Release date	January 8, 1933(1933-01-08)
Running time	75 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Death Kissis a 1933 Americanpre-Codemystery filmstarringDavid Mannersas a crusading studio writer,Adrienne Amesas an actress, andBela Lugosias a studio manager. The thriller features three leading players from the previous year'sDracula(Lugosi, Manners, andEdward Van Sloan), and was the first film directed byEdwin L. Marin.

The film was produced by KBS Productions atTiffany Picturesand released bySono Art-World Wide Pictures.The film's main plot devices was reused for the 1946 French filmThat's Not the Way to DiestarringErich von Stroheim.The film is currently in thepublic domain.

Plot

During the filming of a death scene ofThe Death Kiss,leading man Myles Brent is really shot and killed. Tonart Studios manager Joseph Steiner (Lugosi) is assigned to handle the situation. The studio wants to pass it off as a simple accident, but screenwriter Franklyn Drew (Manners) digs a bullet out of a wall and tells Homicide Detective Lieutenant Sheehan that it is a.38 caliber, while the guns used in the film are all.45s.

Sheehan finds a letter in the dead man's pocket, in which Brent wrote to his lawyer that Marcia Lane (Ames), his co-star and ex-wife, would not sign a release as beneficiary of his $200,000 life insurance policy. Chalmers, an alcoholic extra with a self-admitted grudge against Brent for getting him fired as head gaffer (electrician), is spotted trying to dispose of a loaded.38, but Drew points out that the gun has not been fired.

Drew suggests they view the footage of the fatal scene for clues, but somebody knocks out the projectionist and burns the print using a cigarette withrougeon it. It is a special rouge normally used by only two women. One was away on location, making Lane the prime suspect. Before another print can be made, the negative is destroyed with acid.

While snooping around on the set, Drew finds aderringermounted inside a lamp and electrically wired to be fired remotely, but he is knocked out and the gun taken. He goes to question Chalmers, but finds him dead beside a glass of poison and a written confession. However, Drew finds several clues that make him suspicious. Through more detective work, he discovers that the new battery of Lane's car is dry, and battery fluid is poisonous.

Death Kiss ad fromThe Film Daily,1932

In Brent's dressing room, Drew finds a letter from a love-stricken married woman named "Agnes" and a hotel room key. Later, in Steiner's office, Sheehan takes Lane into custody; Drew spots a photo of a woman on the desk; the inscription reveals that Steiner's wife is named Agnes. When Drew goes to the hotel, he finds out from a bellhop that Brent had been there with a woman; her husband was waiting, and the two men got into a fight.

The studio decides to finish the film (only the last, fatal scene needs to be shot), using a double for Brent and arranging for Lane's temporary release. Drew finds out from the prop man that the guns were originally supposed to be.38s, but he made an unauthorized substitution. Drew takes him to Sheehan. Just as he is about to reveal who ordered the guns, the lights go out. (The murderer had overheard the conversation through a studio microphone.) After a gunfight and chase, the killer falls to his death. It is Avery, the director.

Cast

• David Mannersas Franklyn Drew
• Adrienne Amesas Marcia Lane
• Bela Lugosias Joseph Steiner
• John Wrayas Detective Lieut. Sheehan
• Vince Barnettas Officer Gulliver (chief of the studio police)
• Alexander Carr as Leon A. Grossmith ( "president of this concern [studio]" )
• Edward Van Sloanas Tom Avery (the director)
• Harold Minjir as Howell
• Barbara Bedfordas Script Girl
• Al Hillas Assistant Director
• Harold Waldridge as Charlie (bellhop)
• Wade Boteleras Sergeant Hilliker
• Lee Moranas Todd (publicist)
• Edmund Burnsas Miles Brent (uncredited)
• Mona Marisas Mrs. Agnes Avert (uncredited)
• Forrest Tayloras Actor (uncredited)
• George O'Hanlonas Bystander (uncredited)
• Lester Dorras Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Release

The Death Kisswas originally scheduled for a national release on December 25, 1932. However, the release was delayed by the addition of tinted sequences to the film, andThe Death Kissinstead released on January 8, 1933.(Though technically, the scenes weren't tinted in the traditional sense, but by hand-coloring each frame a la the early method used by such pioneers asGeorges Melies.)

See also

• List of early color feature films
• List of mystery films

External links

• The Death KissatIMDb
• The Death Kissat theTCM Movie Database
• The Death Kissis available for free viewing and download at theInternet Archive
• The Death KissatAllMovie
• The Death Kissat theAFI Catalog of Feature Films