Murders in the Rue Morgue – a spooky-looking 1932 film. ‘Hey!’ says a hypothetical movie-goer. ‘I wonder if that lurking ape has anything to do with the mystery?’
Thanks to everyone who reviewed books and films for 1958. Les and Moira have chosen October’s year: 1932. Here’s where you can sign up to include your reviews in next month’s round-up.
As October ends with Hallowe’en, I am going to be awarding extra points (not that I award points) for spooky books, and the person who includes the most spine-chilling excerpt in their review will be awarded the honour of choosing next month’s year.
What went on in 1932? Plenty. The world was still in the grip of the Great Depression following the 1929 Wall Street Crash. In the UK unemployment stood at 30%. In the US 43,000 people- ‘the Bonus Army’ marched on Washington in support of veterans demanding cash in exchange for their military service certificates. Later in the year Roosevelt became President by offering a New Deal for the country. In Germany, Hitler began his steady march to power by running for President.
In literature 1932 saw the publication of Brave New World, Cold Comfort Farm, Tobacco Road, and Guys and Dolls. Movies included Murders in the Rue Morgue, Tarzan the Ape Man and Freaks. Big songs were Louis Armstrong’s All of Me, and Rudy Vallee’s Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? The usual artistic mix of reflecting the world crisis, and ignoring it.
So, over to you lot for the crime fiction…
Small print
- Books, comics, films, plays and TV also welcome.
- If you want to play but you haven’t got a blog, I’m happy to have you as a guest poster, or to link to Goodreads or Amazon.
- Comment below to join in, or tweet me @westwoodrich.
- Sorry if I miss you in the round-up.
Past Offences: Classic crime, thrillers and mystery book reviews 
I just hope there are not too many good books from 1932 because then it will be too hard to choose. I will definitely find something. Thanks for continuing this challenge.
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I’m enjoying doing it. I might even give it its own button in my navigation bar.
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AM up for it. Need to choose my book…
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Hooray, looking forward to it Sarah.
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Will definitely do one (to show no hard feelings about September) but naturally have no idea what it is yet….
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Have chosen my book – an Ellery Queen one – don’t think I have ever read any of those or if so it was a million years ago. It’s actually set at Christmas time rather than Halloween so I probably won’t win the spooky prize but I’ll be on the lookout for gruesomeness 🙂
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The Greek Coffin Mystery, hm?
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Nope…there were two published that year according to Wikipedia
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there were two published that year according to Wikipedia
Oh! You’re perfectly correct. How odd. When I checked there earlier, wondering myself if there might have been a 1932 Queen, I only saw Greek Coffin. Perhaps it was because I can remember that as one of my very favourites of the early Queens. (Can’t remember anything else about it, but . . .)
The Queens had a pretty busy publishing year in 1932, didn’t they? There were two Barnaby Rosses as well.
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I’m reading one of the two right now, but in order to build tension I’m going to challenge you, the reader, to deduce which one.
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I’m going to challenge you, the reader, to deduce which one
No idea. *coff coff*
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Ernst Lothar’s Das Hellseher, the basis for the great Claude Rains movie The Clairvoyant (1935), was first published in 1929. But its English translation, also called The Clairvoyant (and of which I have a copy), was first published in 1932. Would this qualify?
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I though Hellseher sounded a bit Clive Barker, but then I realised it must mean Light-seer. I think that would qualify.
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I’m going with Before the Fact by Francis Iles/Anthony Berkeley. And I may squeeze in the movie version too.
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First time somebody’s done that for this – good idea.
I have got to read some Iles soon.
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It will give me a chance to read Peril at End House and, maybe, a Simenon book.
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I’ll be joining in as well, Rich and thanks again for hosting the challenge. This has been a lot of fun.
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Cool, look forward to reading your review.
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Can I join in?? My blog is hardly prestigious or focussed, but I’d love to take part.
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Well normally I’m all about focus (as evidenced by my missing two contributors last month) but you’re very welcome 🙂 Something by Christie?
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Huzzah! Can do — that would probably be wisest (in which case, Peril at End House) — but I was actually thinking of Gladys Mitchell, The Saltmarsh Murders.
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A new reader joining in. I have no idea if the book I chose will be scary, but it’s by an author I’ve seen on shelves for years but have never read.
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Hi Nikki, always glad to have new players. Look forward to hearing about your book.
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I’m up for this one — especially when you include the additional incentive of “the most spine-chilling excerpt” getting to pick the year for November. But beware the wrath of the Voodoo Prince if my post is skipped over again. (Q: evil laughter & ominous music)
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*Googles protection from voodoo* *Finds surprising number of retail solutions*
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My post and podcast on Ellery Queen’s “The Egyptian Cross Mystery” from 1932 will be posting tomorrow…
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And…it’s posted. http://www.classicmysteries.net/2014/10/the-egyptian-cross-mystery.html . Thanks, Rich!
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Pingback: The Murders in the Rue Morgue (movie) | Past Offences Classic Crime Fiction
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Pingback: Ellery Queen: The Egyptian Cross Mystery | Past Offences Classic Crime Fiction
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Edgar Wallace – When the Gangs came to London http://col2910.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/edgar-wallace-when-gangs-came-to-london.html
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