The Last Warning (1928) ***1/2

A really fun, spooky, and influential murder mystery with innovative camerawork and effects, Paul Leni’s The Last Warning (1928) was the director's last film before his life was sadly cut short at age 44. TLW was released simultaneously in three versions: a part-talkie; with music and sound effects; and as a silent, but only the latter survives. Here the "old dark house" is supplanted by an "old dark theatre."Comedy and thrills abound in equal measure in this briskly paced, well cast, and highly entertaining motion picture.

Recommended for fans of The Cat And The Canary (1927) (review), Clue (1985) (review), and The Phantom Of The Opera (1925) (review) (which this film recycled sets from).

Paul Leni Feature Films Ranked