While the Patient Slept
While the Patient Slept

While the Patient Slept

1935Movie66 minEnglish

A murder happens when greedy relatives gather to await the demise of their wealthy and very ill family patriarch.

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Insights

IMDb5.9/10
Director: Gore VidalGenres: Mystery, Crime

Plot Summary

A private detective is hired to investigate the murder of a wealthy socialite, Agnes. The investigation uncovers a web of deceit, greed, and family secrets. As the detective delves deeper, he realizes that the killer might be closer than anyone suspects. The case becomes a race against time to catch the murderer before they strike again.

Critical Reception

While 'While the Patient Slept' received moderate attention upon its release, it has since been largely forgotten, considered a B-movie from its era. Contemporary reviews were mixed, highlighting its predictable plot but acknowledging some atmospheric tension. It is not a film that is widely discussed or critically re-evaluated in modern film studies.

What Reviewers Say

  • A straightforward, albeit uninspired, mystery narrative.
  • Features a standard cast that delivers competent performances.
  • Lacks the suspense and originality to stand out among its genre peers.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this film is not readily available.

Fun Fact

This film is an early example of a murder mystery that features a detective navigating the complexities of a wealthy family's secrets, a trope that would become more refined in later cinematic decades.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Guy Kibbee ("O'Leary") and Aline MacMahon ("Nurse Sarah") are clearly having some fun in this amiably entertaining big house murder mystery. The story centres around a dying old millionaire who finds his grasping family assembling to see wh...