Leofwine_draca DEATH FROM A DISTANCE is a US murder mystery made in 1935 and featuring a hardboiled cop teaming up with a female reporter. By teaming up I mean that he typically seems to lecture her around in a mildly sexist fashion while she sticks up for herself. The opening murder sequence is the best part of the film as it takes place in a planetarium during a lecture by an astronomer. A gun fires and an audience member lies dead, so the detective has to follow the clues and solve the mystery.This opening scene is reminiscent of Hitchcock and actually predates a similar moment in his version of THE 39 STEPS. Unfortunately the rest of the film is largely slow-paced and rather bloated with red herrings and the like. It's not the kind of film to engross you, rather the type of film to fall asleep to. The two main stars do their best but DEATH FROM A DISTANCE is a film that's dated more than anything else.

Al Westerfield Death from a distance is dominated by two very impressive sets: the planetarium and observatory. The long shot intimates this takes place at the Griffith Observatory. However, the front doors to the Griffith planetarium don't match. Further, the structure and telescope in the observatory don't either. Since there are no similar sites in southern California, I must conclude they were studio sets. Invincible Pictures were distributed by Chesterfield, the latter being famous for renting high class sets at major studios. The conclusion seems to be that Invincible did, too. It would be interesting to find out which film the sets were designed for.For a poverty row mystery the film is well above average with procedurals closer to actual police work. The Charlie Chan gathering climax is handled better than any Chan film. The suspects include several personal favorites: Robert Fraser, the boss villain in many a western and plantation owner in White Zombie; and Wheeler Oakman, the "henchman's henchman" in dozens of B films, especially The Phantom Empire.This is a good mystery of its type, one worth an hour of your time.

wes-connors "A murder is committed at the Forest Park Planetarium during a lecture by the celebrated Astronomer, Professor Ernst Einfeld (Lee Kohlmar). The fatal shot is fired in semi-darkness while a distinguished audience observes the stars projected on the dome above them. A hardboiled homicide detective (Russell Hopton) trades verbal jabs with a wisecracking gal reporter (Lola Lane) as they attempt to unravel the mysterious killing," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis. In a very dull manner.The "gal reporter" character played by Lola Lane was, in part, writer Jerry Siegel's inspiration for Superman's Girl Friend, "Lois Lane"; however, Ms. Lane's later "Torchy Blane" characterization is a more accurate reference point. Perhaps, "Death from a Distance is most notable as featuring the penultimate performance of George F. Marion (as Jim Gray), who so memorably played the father of Pauline Lord (1921), Blanche Sweet (1923), and Greta Garbo (1930) in Eugene O'Neill's "Anna Christie".*** Death from a Distance (9/17/35) Frank Strayer ~ Russell Hopton, Lola Lane, George F. Marion

dbborroughs During a lecture at a planetarium one of the people in the audience is killed. The police are called and with the help of, or possibly despite the interference of a female reporter the killer is eventually unmasked.If nothing else this film has a unique location which is played up a great deal as the film milks it for all its worth. What is worth is plenty since this is a snappy mystery with great dialog and a decent mystery. The acting is good and the cast is made up of troopers who you've probably seen in countless other films.This is one of those movie that's worth seeking out and worth buying. Alpha Video is putting it out shortly in a cheap edition and I'll be picking up copies for friends who like the really good mysteries. Keep an eye on Amazon, you won't be disappointed.