Murder by Invitation (Monogram) (1941)

a a lm a i i i I ee a I ee es er The Cast Wallace Ford Marian Marsh Sarah Padden Sheriff Boggs George Guhl Judge Moore Wallis Clark Garson Denham....Gayin Gordon Maxine Denham..Minerva Urecal Arthur Young Herbert Vigran Hazel Keener Credits Produced by-_..._..._... A. W. Hackel Directed by Phil Rosen Ass’t. Director Mack Wright Story and Screenplay by George Bricker Film Editor Martin G. Cohn Prod. Manager_...Ben Gutterman Photography Marcel LePicard Glen Glenn A Monogram Picture HERES THE GRIPPING STORY (Not for Publication) Cassandra Denham, eccentric old spinster, has just bested a group of her relatives at a court hearing during which they tried to prove her insane and not competent of handling her huge fortune. The judge ruled otherwise, however. Bob White, ace columnist for the New York Register, attended the hearing. Shortly afterward White is visited in his office by Garson Denham, Cassandra’s nephew and leader of the group that tried to have her declared insane. Denham shows White and his secretary, Nora O’Brien, an invitation to spend a week at Cassandra’s estate. He points out that similar invitations were mailed to all members of the Denham clan, and also that the invitations demand they all arrive at 12 o’clock, midnight. Garson Denham has a premonition that something terrible will happen—perhaps that Cassandra will try to kill them all. White ridicules this idea, but agrees to keep an eye on happenings at the huge mansion. When the Denhams gather at midnight, Cassandra explains that she wants them all to visit her so she can decide who will be her heir when she dies. The first night, death strikes in the rambling, old house when Garson Denham is knifed. News of this crime brings White, Nora and a Register cameraman, Eddie, to the scene of the murder. They interview Sheriff Boggs, a not too bright servant of the law. Boggs tells Bob to step into the library if he wants to see the body of Garson Denham. White, Nora and Eddie enter the room—only the body is that of Lawrence Denham. With two murders on his hands now, Boggs calls a meeting of everybody in another room of the house. Meantime, the second body also disappears. That evening Bob White, dressing in his room, gets a note warning him to “Leave Greylock or die.” Searching for an intruder, he opens a closet door—and out fall the bodies of Garson and Lawrence Denham. With practically everybody in the house suspected, but all able to prove alibis, Sheriff Boggs is at a dead end. Suddenly the murderer strikes again, and Tom Denham is stabbed to death while talking with Mary. Cassandra now hits upon a novel plan to learn the identity of the killer. Telling only Bob and Eddie of her secret, she decides to burn the house, gambling on the prospect that the murderer, who is after her money, will give himself away when he sees the three million dollars going up in smoke. Cas sandra does set fire to the structure and Mary, her constant companion for many years, breaks down under the nervous strain, admits she and her husband, Cassandra’s chauffeur, have committed the crimes. Then Cassandra breaks the bombshell—that her cash fortune is all in confederate money. Very Busy Lady Sarah Padden, veteran of practically every branch of the acting profession, is one of those lucky members of the film industry who find their services constantly in demand by producers. The actress, who appears with Wallace Ford and Marian Marsh in “Murder By In vitation,” now at the Theatre, is one of the busiest personalities in Hollywood and moves constantly from one picture to another. Recognized as one of the finest character actresses in films, Miss Padden is noted for her ability to | take any character or type of role and play it to the hilt. In “Murder By Invitation” she is seen as an eccentric old spinster, who invites some relatives to her huge mansion and finds herself involved in a series of murders. Arson On Order To insure the proper burning of a large house for a scene in Monogram’s “Murder By Invitation,’’ which opens at the Theatre, Director Phil Rosen hired a crew of eight arson experts. It was their job to see that the building burned in such a manner that it provided the most spectacular effect possible. The men wore special asbestos suits and worked within the building itself during the early stages of the blaze. Wallace Ford is starred in the picture, to head a cast that includes Marian Marsh, Sarah Padden, George Guhl, Gavin Gordon and Wallis Clark. | WALLACE FORD | who turns detective, Wallace Ford scores in ‘Murder by Invitation.” One Col. Cut or Mat No. 1 | As a livewire columnist Sure Thing! During the filming of Monogram’s “Murder By Invitation,” now-atthe 2 Theatre, Wallace Ford came through with one of those “sure-thing” bets one morning. He had his horse, Porlezza, entered in a race at an eastern track and was touting its prowess all over the set, but Director Phil Rosen, Marian Marsh, Sarah Padden and others in the cast would have none of it. This ends differently than most stories about the horse racing tracks because Porlezza ran dead last and everybody was happy—ex cept Ford. Sarah Padden, as a millionaire recluse whose invitations to her heirs result in three murders, is questioned by Wallace Ford in “Murder by Invitation.” Two Col. Cut or Mat No. 15 from Hollywood—and they are | ranchers in every sense of the word, | vising the care and breeding of the livestock and handling other details ;o1 their estates. Starting with a small piece of farmland five years ago, Ford now has a 100-acre ranch on which he even almonds. His fruit-raising activities alone produce enough revenue to pay his taxes and incidental expenses during the year. | In addition, Ford also has entered | the horse-breeding business and has the famous Whitney stallion Agitator standing at his ranch. The “get” of this illustrious sire will reach the races this fall and the actor expects to have a handy crop of two year olds racing in his colors at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. The Marian Marsh ranch, which covers more than 300 acres of farm and grazing land, abounds with orange, grapefruit and plum orchards and has many sections devoted to tomatoes, potatoes and other vegetables. The actress also has a large herd of dairy cattle, hundreds of chickens and other livestock. Under her careful supervision the ranch more than pays for itself—in fact, shows a decided profit each year. Best proof that Ford and Miss Marsh take their ranching seriously lis offered. in an incident that occurred during the filming of ‘Murder by Invitation.” The actors showed up a half-hour late one morning, and Ford offered this explanation to director Phil Rosen: “You'll have to pardon us,” he explained, ‘but we’ve been sitting up all night with a sick horse.” That was no gag. A colt belonging to the actress had taken ill during the night and she called on Ford for help. The couple sat with the young horse through the night, and finally pulled it through safely. Others in the cast of “Murder by Invitation,” a mystery thriller, include Sarah Padden, George Guhl, Wallis Clark and Gavin Gordon. Thriller Opens With Wallace Ford heading a strong supporting cast that includes Marian Marsh, Sarah Padden, George Guhl, Wallis Clark and Gavin Gordon, Monogram’s “Mur der by Invitation,” opens ............... CY ic | 0's beset Seale ee Theatre. The swiftly moving murder mystery was directed by Phil Rosen and produced by A. W. Hackel. plotting the annual crops, super-. grows apples, peaches, plums and | | DANGER AHEAD | Wallace Ford and Marian Marsh face the menace of a ruthless killer in “Murder by Invitation.” One Col. Cut or Mat No. 2 Hollywood Stars Achieve Success in Rancher Roles Wallace Ford and Marian Marsh, who have the leading roles in Monogram’s “Murder by Invitation,” which opens rE (aed oan Setar a Theatre, are two of the most enthusiastic and successful ranchers in the motion picture colony. Ford and Miss Marsh own neighboring ranches in the San Fernando Valley, a short distance+ 5 + e e GENTLE LADY OR MURDERESS? Sidelines Keep Actress Going Marian Marsh is one Hollywood personality who will never lack a career if she ever decides to retire permanently from the screen because she has enough sideline activities now to keep her busy most of the time. The young actress who appears opposite Wallace Ford in Monogram’s ‘Murder By Invitation,” now at the Theatre, could make a full time job alone out of running her ranch in the San Fernando Valley. In addition to supervising the activities of her ranch, on which she grows all manner of fruits and vegetables and raises cows, chickens and other livestock, Miss Marsh is a talented dress designer and studies piano, painting and singing. She designs all her own clothes and the extensive wardrobe she wears through “Murder By Invitation” is solely the result of her /own talent. Other Hollywood stars |are constantly demanding that she open an exclusive dress shop, but Miss Marsh lacks the time for such a venture. In “Murder By Invitation,” which marks her return to the screen after more than a year of retirement, the actress is part of a cast that also includes Sarah Padden, George Guhl, Gavin Gordon, Wallis Clark and Minerva Urecal. Phil Rosen directed and A. W. Hackel was the producer. Character Man Plays 175 Roles George Guhl, veteran character actor, celebrated his tenth year in Hollywood and his 175th picture during the filming of Monogram’s “Murder by Invitation,’ which stars Wallace Ford with Marian Marsh and Sarah Padden and opens at the Theatre. This means that Guhl, famous for his characterizations of simple sheriffs or sour country judges, has averaged nearly 18 films a year during his screen career. Guhl’s first screen appearance was for director George Seitz in a picture titled “Arizona,” that was made in 1931. The actor was touring with a stock company and only passing through Los Angeles, but he never got outside the city limits again. In “Murder by Invitation,” Guhl is seen as a not too bright sheriff who finds a chain of knife-murders too much for him to handle. Phil | Rosen directed for producer A, W. | Hackel. Case of Marian Marsh is Proof of Fans’ Loyalty It’s an old Hollywood adage that¢receded to a great extent but Miss nothing is more fickle than the affections of the motion picture public, but Marian Marsh is one actress who won’t subscribe to that theory. In fact, if the case of this talented young lady is any criterion, screen fans are as steadfast in their devotion and loyalty as Juliet was to Romeo. More than a year ago, Miss Marsh decided to retire from pictures and devote herself to supervising the activities of her large ranch and to the business of being a wife. Ranked at one time as one of the top box-office names in the industry, she still was a firstflight star with a tremendous fan following. “There were all kinds of letters,” reveals Miss Marsh. “Some people wrote wishing me luck and happiness in my newly planned future, while others felt that I should continue with my screen career. They all were wonderful letters, and it was heart-warming to know that these people took such a deep personal interest in me.” After a flood of mail that lasted for many weeks, the flow naturally Marsh continued to receive many letters from faithful fans during her idle months. Then she was signed for a role opposite Wallace Ford in Monogram’s “Murder By Invitation,” a mystery thriller which opens Bri serele Se wie) at the Theatre. When this news spread throughout the country, the mail again began to reach tremendous proportions, with Monogram and the star herself getting scores of letters daily. “T think this is the best proof that the public doesn’t forget,” claims Miss Marsh. “They had little reason to remember me after all that time—but they did remember and that is what counts. Certainly you will never convince me that picture fans lack loyalty.” In “Murder By Invitation,” produced by A. W. Hackel and directed by Phil Rosen, the actress is seen as the assistant to Ford, cast as a metropolitan newspaper columnist. Others in cast of the film are Sarah Padden, George Guhl, Wallis Clark and Gavin Gordon.