House of Horror

House of Horror

Year: 1929

Runtime: 65 mins

Director: Benjamin Christensen

ComedyHorrorMystery

A 1929 American comedy‑horror mystery directed by Benjamin Christensen and starring Louise Fazenda and Chester Conklin. The studio issued both a fully silent cut and a Vitaphone partial‑talkie version that added synchronized dialogue, music and sound effects. Today, both the silent and sound prints are considered lost.

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Timeline & Setting – House of Horror (1929)

Explore the full timeline and setting of House of Horror (1929). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events unfold in a pre-digital, old-fashioned setting where everyday life meets melodrama and danger. The rural-then-urban progression suggests an early 20th-century sensibility, with period details like woolen underwear and stage-like disguises underscoring the timeframe. The atmosphere relies on suspense and clever plotting rather than modern technology, highlighting a slower pace of danger and discovery.

Location

Ohio, New York

The story shifts from a quiet crossroads in rural Ohio where a modest country store is run by Louise and Chester, to a shadowy antique shop in New York filled with sinister relics and secretive inhabitants. The New York location is a sprawling, claustrophobic space where plans unfold among guarded rooms and hidden compartments. The contrast between the small-town simplicity of Ohio and the metropolitan, perilous ambiance of the shop heightens the sense of danger and the lure of hidden fortune.

❄️ Rural Ohio 🗽 New York antique shop atmosphere 🕰️ Historic relics and danger 🔎 Mystery and fortune

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:59

Main Characters – House of Horror (1929)

Meet the key characters of House of Horror (1929), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Louise (Louise Fazenda)

A practical spinster who runs a rural country store with her brother. She is cautious yet resourceful, displaying resolve when she swallows the diamond to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands and showing a protective, quick-thinking side.

💪 Courage 🧭 Resourcefulness

Chester (Chester Conklin)

A dedicated but distracted spiritualist convinced of fate and fortune. He endures discomfort and fashion troubles for the quest, often arriving just after the crucial moments, yet his enthusiasm drives the plot forward.

🪙 Obsession 🌀 Foresight

Mystery Man (William V. Mong)

An enigmatic figure who summons Louise and Chester and stalks the unfolding treasure plot. He embodies looming danger and represents the unknown force that wants the diamond for himself.

🕵️‍♂️ Threat 🗝️ Mystery

Uncle Abner (Émile Chautard)

A paranoid, reclusive owner of the antique shop who guards a hidden fortune. His room becomes the nexus for the final confrontation as plans collide and danger peaks.

🏛️ Wealth 🗝️ Secrets

Joe (James Ford)

A young fortune-seeker hiding among the antiques, part of the ensemble pursuing the diamond and adding to the suspense and misdirection.

🧩 Mystery 🤑 Greed

Thelma (Thelma Todd)

A young fortune-seeker moving through the antique rooms, contributing to the tension and the web of schemes surrounding the jewel.

🎭 Drama 🧭 Deceit

Brown (Tenen Holtz)

A drunken servant connected to Abner’s circle, adding volatility and risk to the conspiracy while providing occasional dark humor.

🥃 Habit 🗡️ Treachery

Gladys (Dale Fuller)

The scheming wife who collaborates with Brown, pressing to reveal the diamond’s location and further her own aims.

🪙 Greed 🤐 Secrecy

Chauffeur (Michael Visaroff)

A minor servant within the sprawling shop, adding to the control and access that shape the progression of events.

🚗 Service 🗝️ Access

Miller (William Orlamond)

Another member of Abner’s circle, contributing to the web of potential threats and secrets surrounding the diamond.

🧭 Mystery 🕰️ History

Old Miser (Émile Chautard)

A character driven by suspicion and greed who guards wealth and secrets within the shop’s walls, adding menace to the pursuit.

💰 Greed 🏚️ Decay

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:59

Major Themes – House of Horror (1929)

Explore the central themes of House of Horror (1929), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💎 Greed

The blue diamond acts as the central lure driving characters to risk everything. Treasure hunting accelerates schemes, double-crosses, and tense confrontations as each person vies for control of the jewel. The pursuit of wealth reveals who can be trusted and who will deceive others for a chance at fortune.

🕵️‍♂️ Deception

Disguises, hidden motives, and strategic misdirection propel the plot. The Mystery Man manipulates the siblings, while other characters hide their true aims among the antiques. Louise's act of swallowing the diamond is itself a calculated deception to keep it out of dangerous hands.

👻 Fate

Spiritualist overtones and a sense of predestined danger thread through the story, influenced by Chester’s belief in signs from beyond. The old man Abner and the lurking Mystery Man imply forces guiding or foiling human plans. The finale hinges on a fateful collision of schemes under pressure.

🏚️ Setting

The antique shop and its shadowy corridors create a foreboding, maze-like atmosphere that amplifies suspense. The stark contrast between rural Ohio and urban New York emphasizes how environment shapes trust and risk. The environment itself acts as a catalyst for discovery, danger, and dramatic confrontations.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:59

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Narrative Summary

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Unlock the Full Story of House of Horror

Don't stop at just watching — explore House of Horror in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what House of Horror is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

House of Horror Summary

Read a complete plot summary of House of Horror, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

House of Horror Summary

House of Horror Timeline

Track the full timeline of House of Horror with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

House of Horror Timeline

More About House of Horror

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about House of Horror: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About House of Horror

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