If you like a little humor with your dead bodies (and who doesn’t?) then this mystery comedy is for you. While it doesn’t reach the heights of Paul Leni’s work in the genre, it does have one ace up its sleeve: Raymond Griffith.
A hidden treasure of silent comedy, Griffith is grand as a coroner who just wants to go the theater, darn it, and not deal with a corpse and a locked houseboat mystery. The plot doesn’t quite hold up to scrutiny but there’s fun to be had and the title cards by Ralph Spence and Robert Benchley can lay claim to being among the best of the silent era.
How does it end? Hover or tap below for a spoiler.
Mr. Black (Earle Williams) on the houseboat with the dagger.
Read my full-length review here.
If it were a dessert it would be: Cannibal Jello. Old school and gleefully macabre. Fun to be had for all.
Availability: You’d Be Surprised has been released on DVD by Grapevine.
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Movies Silently 
Just in time for Halloween…thanks for the Fun Size of You’d Be Surprised. Love the jelly brain recipe!
By the by, our Halloween party this year is themed Fright Night at the Movies, so You’d Be Surprised fits right in. In the aftermath of all the trick-or-treaters we’re planning on having pumpkin chili and cornbread while showing Phantom of the Opera, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Cat and the Canary. Yep, it’s shaping up to be an all-nighter (or pretty close) 😀
Have fun! 😀
Oh yes, absolutely planning on it! I’ll be going as Dr. Moreau with partner as one of my victims 😉