View source for The House of Fear 1939 film

The House of Fear is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Joe May and starring William Gargan, Irene Hervey, and Dorothy Arnold. Originally intended to be filmed in 10 days with a $10,000 budget, the project exceeded both its schedule and budget. Upon release, it received positive reviews from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and The New York Daily News. The plot follows a theater that closes after an actor is killed during a play. A year later, a young producer reopens the theater with the same cast to stage the same play. Production began on March 16, 1939, with a budget just over $100,000. Initially titled Backstage Phantom, it was adapted from Wadsworth Camp's novel and Thomas F. Fallon's play "The Last Warning." The film is part of Universal's Crime Club series, which produced 11 films between 1937 and 1939, and is a remake of Paul Leni’s The Last Warning. Director Joe May, who had not yet mastered English, faced challenges during filming, leading to extended shooting hours and a 15-day schedule that ran over by April 6, resulting in an $8,000 budget overrun. Charles Previn served as music director, contributing only to the opening and closing credits due to the film's lack of other musical elements. Distributed by Universal Pictures on June 30, 1939, The House of Fear was praised by Wanda Hale of The New York Daily News for its intriguing mystery. Variety noted it as a suspenseful whodunnit with comedic touches, while The Hollywood Reporter highlighted ...