Midnight Mystery | 1930 | Mystery Thriller

Title: Midnight Mystery | 1930 | Mystery Thriller Director: George B. Seitz Studio: RKO Pictures Starring: Betty Compson, Hugh Trevor, Lowell Sherman, Rita La Roy, Ivan Lebedeff, Raymond Hatton, June Clyde, Marcelle Corday Based on: Play *Hawk Island* by Howard Irving Young Release Date: June 1 1930 Runtime: 65 minutes Format: Black and white with sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: Mystery Thriller --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Arrival at Hawk Island mansion 00:10:00 Guests gather and storm begins 00:20:00 Tensions and secrets emerge 00:30:00 First murder and investigation begins 00:40:00 Clues and suspicions shift 00:50:00 Confrontation with killer 01:00:00 Resolution and confession --- Summary: Midnight Mystery is a 1930 American pre-Code mystery thriller set on Hawk Island when millionaire Gregory Sloane invites a group of diverse guests to his isolated mansion. A fierce storm cuts off the island from the mainland, and tensions erupt among the partygoers until a murder occurs. Sally Wayne, a writer of mystery novels and fiancée to Sloane, takes it upon herself to unravel the web of clues as alliances shift and secrets surface. As the night unfolds, Sally uses her skills as a sleuth to piece together motives and contradictions, ultimately prompting the murderer’s confession and restoring calm after a suspense-filled evening. --- Background: Directed by George B. Seitz and produced for RKO Pictures from a screenplay by Beulah Marie Dix, *Midnight Mystery* was adapted from the Broadway play *Hawk Island* and reflects the early sound era’s fascination with enclosed-setting whodunits. The ensemble cast includes Betty Compson in the lead role as the resourceful mystery writer whose sharp deductions drive the narrative. --- Trivia: Betty Compson stars as novelist sleuth Sally Wayne, a rarity for female leads in early talkie mysteries. The film’s source play *Hawk Island* had a Broadway run featuring Clark Gable in one of the roles later portrayed in the movie version. The isolated mansion setting and storm-bound plot place this among the “old dark house” style mysteries popular in early cinema. RKO Pictures distributed the picture during the transitional period from silent to sound filmmaking. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: June 1 1930 Original Studio / Distributor: RKO Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Not applicable --- Hashtags: #MidnightMystery1930 #BettyCompson #GeorgeBSeitz #MysteryFilm #PreCode #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain