Mystery Of The Wax Museum (1933)

“You can go to some nice warm place and I don’t mean California!” – Florence (“Mystery of the Wax Museum” – 1933)

There’s something strange about the wax figures at the newly opened wax museum.  Will wily reporter Florence (Glenda Farrell) get to the bottom of it or will her friend Charlotte (Fay Wray) become the Marie Antoinette masterpiece that Ivan Igor (Lionel Atwill) is longing to recreate?  While you’re watching this often forgotten horror gem, here are a few things to look for.

It’s Alive!

There are a couple of things to look for when we first see the Marie Antoinette figure at the very beginning.  When Mr. Igor introduces the figure to his two visitors, not only can we see that it’s actually Fay Wray in costume, we can also see the “statue” move.  A few moments later, when the Marie Antoinette sculpture is burning, the figure is different, obviously the wax model!

Hands Off!

Florence is talking with Jimmy (Frank McHugh) at the news office regarding the story.  She threatens to quit over the story regarding the missing body.  Jimmy caves and tells her she can do things her way.  They walk back to Jimmy’s desk where Florence puts her right hand on the black telephone holder/stand.  In the next right side shot, her hand is down on the desk.

Speaking Of Hands…

Ralph (Allen Vincent) and Hugo (Matthew Betz) are sculpting before the wax museum opens.  When Mr. Igor arrives, he talks to Ralph and turns and talks to Hugo about the sculpture of himself.  Watch Hugo’s hands!  They change position during the scene.  This is especially noticeable in a side shot where we can see both hands near the face of the sculpture.  It then cuts to a close-up where only his right hand is on its ear.  In the following wide shot, neither hand is near the figure’s face!

A Quick Smoke

The police officer walks in to show Florence and the Police Chief (DeWitt Jennings) the watch they found.  The Chief is holding his cigar and puts it in his mouth before grabbing the watch.  But, in the next closer shot of him, the cigar has suddenly disappeared!

Breaking In

Near the end, when the police are trying to break into the work room, we see them hit the sliding door with a wooden crate, leaving a hole in the center.  However, when it cuts to the view on the opposite side, the upper half of the door has been broken through.

Look for this movie and more at:

See Also:

Office Space

The Shining

Frankenstein (1931)

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© 2007 by Tammy Cordani.  To use the above content you must first obtain written permission.  Please contact Tammy Cordani.  All rights reserved.