Crimes at the Dark House (originally titled The Woman in White) is a 1940 British film directed by George King and starring Tod Slaughter, Sylvia Marriott and Hilary Eaves. It was written by Edward Dryhurst, Frederick Hayward and H.F. Maltby. Based on the 1860 novel The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. <br /><br />Plot: A villainous madman murders the wealthy Sir Percival Glyde in the gold fields of Australia as he sleeps, and assumes his identity in order to inherit his estate in England. On arriving in England, he schemes to marry an heiress for her money. With the connivance of the enigmatic Dr. Fosco, he embarks on a killing spree targeting those who suspect him to be an imposter and who may prevent him from becoming the lord of the manor. <br /><br />Tod Slaughter has a part after his own heart, and he enters into it with immense gusto. His flamboyant and bombastic portrait of the wicked man is delightful, and he is helped by effective dialogue and clever support from Hay Petrie, whose Dr. Fosco is almost equally impressive. The period settings are admirable and help greatly in the creation of the right atmosphere. Those who enjoy this type of melodrama will find it one of the best examples of its kind which has yet been produced.
