The Last Warning (1928) (Masters of Cinema, b/w)

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The Last Warning was Paul Leni s final film before his untimely death, and a prime showcase for Universal s leading lady of the era, Laura La Plante (The Cat and the Canary, Skinner s Dress Suit). A visual artist at the peak of his career, Leni s camera never stops shifting, offering cutaways and trick shots involving nervous could-be culprits, a highly suspicious sleuth, and cast members who suddenly disappear in the darkened theatre. The result is a cinematic funhouse that restlessly cross-examines the suspense of the story s stage play against the real murder mystery saga, all unfolding amid the outstanding production design of Charles D. Hall.