This movie is more of a detective’s tale than a horror film especially by today’s standards. It does layer in plenty of atmosphere and a storytelling that audiences of the 1930s would find appealing and a bit bizarre. Another important element that likely is lost upon the modern audiences is when the film was released, it was before the production code (Catholic League and Hays Code) was implemented. Some of the elements later frowned upon, that halted viewings of the movie would include drug usage, ad implied levels of corruption and incompetence with the local authorities as well as sexual aggressiveness by a woman. The film is based on a story by Charles Belden (Dracula’s Daughter [1936]) and then turned into a screenplay by Don Mullaly and Carl Erickson, with highly talented director Michael Curtiz who also did Doctor X [1932] and The Walking Dead [1936]. While the story has minor flaws, brief excursions into a subplot that only pads the runtime, the production values convincingly show a curious horror flick which does work to generate interest as one of the earliest experimentations with color engaging the viewer for some interesting German-expressionistic visuals common for the era. The movie was considered “lost” until one perfect print was found in the mid-1960s.

A simplistic story, wax figure sculptor Ivan Igor (Lionel Atwill (The Vampire Bat [1933])) is a genius in his art, however his business partner Joe Worth (Edwin Maxwell (Night of Terror [1933])) is displeased with the financial returns and the mundane trappings of Ivan’s craft. Hence, he sets the place ablaze, assumed he died collects the insurance monies, although after 12-years Ivan survived though injuries he suffered has rendered in forever scarred. He occupies himself by instructing others to create as his hands are useless, an interesting group of works among them is Ralph (Allen Vincent) who has a finance named Charlotte (Fay Wray (King Kong [1933]))) who is the spitting image of Ivan’s beloved wax figure Marie Antoinette. Meanwhile her roommate Florence Dempsey (Glenda Farrell), an independent reporter, with a wisecracking mouthy attitude, very uncommon for that period. She earned her place involving and puzzling, bizarre case of body snatching, from newspaper editor Jim (Frank McHugh) however she’s learned that involves a disfigured monster some of the figures in the museum appeared so lifelike. A behind the scenes trivial tidbit, the wax figurines melted under the heat from the lights, therefore real people were used and carefully filmed, to create the illusion. When that perfect moment occurs in the movie Wray’s famous screams hits the high notes, as she portrayed the damsel in fear and distress, an absolute cliché as she shatters someone’s false mask, the scene is reminiscent of when the mask is torn off The Phantom of the Opera [1929]. Needless to say, the tale is familiar obvious, so ideally not a mystery story, but for the audiences of then it was compelling, and a few red-herrings are placed into the mix.

There’s quite a lot to unpack to understand the backstory of the production, first those with a keen eye for this era of horror cinema, might recognize the laboratory set was from Curtiz’s film Doctor X. Some of the characters are especially weak and serves often to incorporate a primary character such as Ralph, he isn’t well-developed and serves only as a conduit to connect to Charolette, which also is similar to some other secondary characters and are treated merely as placeholders to round a scene they serve more as scenery than importance to the story. Although, there is a bit comic relief from a Morgue Attendant (James Donlan (Thirteen Women [1932])) who remarks when a dead person sits up in the morgue due to gases in the body but enough to startle his assistant. Michael’s direction keeps the film moving along at a much quicker pace than most thrillers of the era, this is likely due to the simplistic story, obvious killer, and little actual mystery to mask to the audience. He hired Anton Grot, from his previous film to serve as art director to create gothic-inspired city with long shadows to illicit unknown fears thereby adding to the atmosphere. Anton took the time and care to create strange staircases and lit them strangely to add a misshapen corridor to offset the audience perception, making them feel uncomfortable.

The film is truly only for cinema lovers of any genre, and those that enjoy deeply meaningful and highly creative visuals, a flair for revisiting movies of yesteryear and understanding with respect to the era it was filmed. Some of the appearances are clearly aged and the social norms are vastly different, the good aspects do counter the negative letdowns and allow for the audience to be respected to this classic work of artful storytelling. I must admit that the dialogue is at times highly offensive, especially who it describes, to overlook or not mention would be a disservice to future viewers of the film, but recall again it was 1933, 90-years ago cinema has change greatly.

TAGLINES:

• Warner Bros.’ Supreme Thriller
• Another Lovely Woman Vanished from the Earth!…Another Beauty Molded to His Desire!
• IS SHE WOMAN OR WAX??? Solve it — if you dare!
• You might as well know the truth as suspect it!—Here’s every nerve-shattering fact laid before your startled eyes! The love riddle the police were afraid to solve brought under the lens of public scrutiny in a picture made behind bolted doors!
• Women of FLESH become WAX in his hands… women of wax become flesh!
• IS SHE WOMAN OR WAX? A victim of the strangest mystery ever known! (Print Ad- Elmira Star-Gazette, ((Elmira NY)) 15 April 1933)
• WOMEN or WAX? …What is the strange EMOTION they experienced? Revealed at last…The love-riddle the people were afraid to solve! (Print Ad- New York Sun, ((New York, NY)) 17 February 1933)
• He made the Women he wanted! (Print Ad- Daily Star, ((Long Island City, NY)) 19 April 1933)
• Images of wax that throbbed with human passion! Almost woman….what did they lack?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024368/

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Baron’s Rating: 6.5/10