Discover new selections
See All Buying Options

The Spanish Cape Mystery

Donald Cook (Actor), Helen Twelvetrees (Actor), Lewis D. Collins (Director) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
3.5 out of 5 stars 137 ratings
Additional DVD options Edition Discs
Price
New from Used from
DVD
January 6, 2017 		—
1
—
$8.96 $1.51
DVD
December 3, 2012 		—
1
—
— $29.96
Genre Mystery & Suspense
Format NTSC
Contributor Helen Twelvetrees, Berton Churchill, Lewis D. Collins, Donald Cook
Language English
Number Of Discs 1
  Report an issue with this product or seller

Product Description

Detective Ellery Queen is a no-nonsense detective who doesn't stand for any trouble under his watch. His dream vacation is ruined when a vicious murder happens right next door to his scenic ocean side villa.

Product details

  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.57 x 7.47 x 5.33 inches; 2.24 ounces
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Lewis D. Collins
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ January 6, 2017
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Donald Cook, Helen Twelvetrees, Berton Churchill
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Reel Vault
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005NWF15E
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.5 out of 5 stars 137 ratings

Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
137 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top reviews from the United States

  • none
    5.0 out of 5 stars The acting was very good, something you do not see in movies today
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A very enjoyable movie. The acting was very good, something you do not see in movies today. My have people forgotten how to enjoy a movie for it's story. The "B" movies were the greatest of there day, to bad they are not around today. Most movies today have some trashy story to tell, and most the time it is made up by some ding-dong who failed creative writing in school.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • W Mcnabb
    1.0 out of 5 stars The product would not play all the way through
    Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The product was a gift for a birthday later in the month from the delivery. When it was played it did not play all the way through. When I went to return the item it was past the date to return it. That was my fault, but I did not know there was a dead line. Not mentioned in the add. So I just had to throw it away. What a waste of my money. It was not that much, but it was just the idea of the whole thing. Why is there a dead line on any product bought on line. Who says they have to be used at a certain time. What if you were buying Christmas gifts early how would you deal with that. So dont buy anything early that is my answer I would guess....
    Helpful
     Report
  • John Galt
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun 1930s sleuth flick
    Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    For those of who are Ellery Queen fans, this is right up our alley. The scene moves from Queen's home base in New York to the California coast. The Times Square footage is great to see the transportation system in post depression New York. The residence on the California coast is a small version of Hearst Castle but gives the picture of isolation that the super rich desired in the 30s.The story is true to the book in that it holds your attention to the very end when you are challenged to solve the mystery before Ellery Queen. The casting is very good and the bad guy is hard to determine because he looks so innocent and the snobs and the fortune hunters are properly snobbish. The film is worth watching for no other reason than to see the great car that Queen and the judge rent to get to the Godfrey estate. If anyone is a car enthusiast can determine the brand of car I would love to know.
    6 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A delightfully entertaining movie
    Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    An assorted group of misfits come together in a wealthy community in a guarded home to contest a will, but then they start to die - one by one, all in bathing suits! What gives? The sheriff can't figure it out, but Ellery Queen puts it all straight.

    A wonderful and fun movie with lots of "Who done it" and lots of witty and clever dialogue.

    A true jewel.
    12 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • M C Smith
    3.0 out of 5 stars Neat, charming and entertaining mystery for lovers of the B-detective films of the 1930's and 40's.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Before commenting on the film itself, I should mention that I am a big fan of the old black and white films of the great B-movie detectives from the 1930's and 1940's. They were simpler times, and the films adopted a simpler approach: one designed to provide around an hour to 70 minutes worth of entertainment. Viewed today, even the best of the them are undeniably dated, but they have a definite charm for those who are prepared to consider them on their own merits, and they still have a capacity to entertain. It is certainly refreshing to watch a murder mystery (indeed, any film) that is completely free from gratuitous violence, nudity, and bad language. If you are of a like mind, then "The Spanish Cape Mystery" may well be worth your time and money.
    To be frank, Ellery Queen was not well served by the movies. Republic Pictures' "The Spanish Cape Mystery" is without doubt the best of his big screen appearances in both casting and general approach. The studio made a follow up, but cast pint-sized and unfunny comic actor Eddie Quillan as Ellery and adopted a comic approach that is execrable in almost every way. Columbia Pictures followed in the 1940's with a series that starred the excellent Ralph Bellamy initially, then replaced him with the almost-as-good William Gargan, but saddled them both with silly scripts that played more for comedy than mystery, and left most of the screen honours to female co-star Margaret Lindsay. They were watchable, but probably the least of the Columbia detective series, and no doubt why they have not yet had a video or DVD release. A couple of so-so TV series were made in the '50's, and a not-bad telemovie with Peter Lawford followed, before we saw the definitive Ellery in the form of Jim Hutton in an excellent, albeit short-lived and stylish series in the 1970's: set in period with good scripts, excellent guest stars, and a "can you guess whodunnit?" break just before the final reveal. (Fortunately, this series is available on DVD, and I recommend it highly.)
    "The Spanish Cape Mystery" is typical of its ilk of the period. It is based (somewhat loosely) on a then popular novel, but changed to reflect cinema stereotypes and tropes at the time. It has a simple, yet for screen purposes suitably convoluted mystery, a typically broad range of suspects (each with a clear motive, and apparent opportunity), a female lead to provide both a prime suspect and a love interest for the detective hero (well-played in 1930's style by nominal star, Helen Twelvetrees), and a somewhat arrogant, bellicose and dim-witted local Sheriff who constantly leaps to wrong conclusions, and resents the intervention of the dilettante amateur detective hero, until he proves quite amiable after Ellery solves the case, but gives him all the credit . (Harry Stubbs plays Sheriff Moley, and actually isn't quite as obnoxious and irritating as some of his counterparts in some of the other B-detective series, such as Fred Kelsey's Dickens in the excellent Warren William' "Lone Wolf" series, and both Walter Sande and Frank Sully as "Matthews" in the otherwise fine Chester Morris' "Boston Blackie" films.)
    The film is both delightful and entertaining. Given its age, the print is excellent: bright, sharp and clear, and remarkably free from scratches and grain. (For "nostalgia-buffs, the symbol to change reels is clearly visible periodically in the top, right-hand corner of the screen.) The sound quality is good and clear, but not outstanding, and I found that I had to have the volume turned well-up.
    The only real glitch was in the transfer itself. In the copy I received, and beginning at about the 6 minute mark, the film became prone to fairly regular "picture freezing": in some cases it was momentary and then the film resumed, in others I had to either fast forward or "scene advance" and then rewind to a spot that wasn't frozen in order to recommence viewing. (On another of my players, the freezing was preceded by serious pixel break-up.) I note than none of the other reviews have commented on this, so it may just been a problem with the copy sent to me. It did however, detract from the total enjoyment of the film, so prospective purchasers please be aware of a potential problem in what is otherwise a very entertaining and neat little piece of nostalgia.
    12 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Woodshoe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Spanish Cape Mystery - Ellery Queen
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Very entertaining old movie. The mystery is not too involved but does provide a way for the characters to unfold. Some of the parts are over played but balance off against the main characters. The mixing of the lead players with mystery and romance works well. The judge adds to the overall play of the plot with his involvement from the sidelines.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Spud
    1.0 out of 5 stars Faulty disk ..
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Half-way thru the movie it starts breaking up and then returns to the start screen. I tried wiping disk with micro-fiber cloth, but no help. I gave the one star rating because it's the lowest I could find. Didn't have a Zero selection.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Duke
    2.0 out of 5 stars Disk died 15 minutes from the end.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Double-feature fodder from the 1930s, this bears no resemblance to the overly intricate novel. Still, it was a fun watch, until the disk became unreadable (at least, by my machine) with 15 minutes or so to go.

    Fortunately, I was able to watch the end of the movie courtesy of Youtube, but it's still disappointing.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • diana smith
    1.0 out of 5 stars Junk , no quality crap
    Reviewed in Canada on August 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The first 30 mins or so are fine , after that the picture breaks up , no sounds , just scatter pictures.
    Waste of money . Its garbage. Don't waste your money .
    Report