The Crooked Circle (1957) - full transcript

the circle will rise

to do for each other,
to avenge any brother,

a fight to the night when
the knife to the hilt.

the brother now languages in
prison through the instrumentality

of one Colonel Theodore Walters

the guiding spirit
of the Sphinx Club.

That band of amateur criminologists

who have made a mistake
of tampering with a circle .

I submit to you the name
of Theodore Waters

what is your verdict?
- Death. - So be it.

The drawing will proceed.



it is fitting that the owner should go
to the only woman member of the circle.

I congratulate you. Tonight
by a means already devised,

you will execute the sentence
of death on Theodore Waters.

And may the luck
of a circle be with you.

Do for each other
to avenge any brother

a fight to the knife
and the knife to the hilt.

Hey say was a charming creature.

And what gorgeous
eyes she has.

The better to keep
track a brand with my hair.

I say Brandon strikes
me you're being a bit selfish

with a ha ha ha to fellow
members of the space problem.

All in favor for Qing band who
introduced us to his fiancee, say aye.

Eye! - Say, you
fella trying to rip me.

You forget it's only two
weeks since I met Miss Parker.



Wel, marry and
hasten repented Reno.

Two weeks ago he
was perfectly normal.

He couldn't be torn away from us then

suddenly meets this charmer and blew the

announces is going to resign from the

Sphinx Club and do the middle aisle

stuff fairly old chap I don't know how

we should carry on without it well maybe

this doesn't put our little space club

on the map

it certainly does everybody's talking

about it

you know the Secret Service has been on

this case for month well look who they

are look who we are hey by the way did

you know the colonel Wallace was going

to propose brand successor tonight well

that's interesting

did he tell you anything about him huh

nothing except that he's a Hindu a Hindu

my word I hope it's not guys see the

club has its heads together hi I'm big

problem we were just talking about my

successor in the club we may succeed

your brand but he will never supplant

you thanks colonel I'm sure you'll find

this gentleman from envy well qualified

for membership I asked him to meet us

here good I liked him

we're expecting a mr. your gun mr.

Uganda show him in here as soon as he

arrived yes say by the way colonel when

you expect occupy your new home tonight

for the first time but melody Manor is

not new bank is one of the oldest houses

on Long Island you know I love those old

mansion they always have such

interesting legend

being scared is don't be fear everybody

around here knows me I'm oh well I'm no

rapper tea please go away won't you Wow

I just come around here to cheer you up

better save all that covering for when

the rain thing down well be neighborly

can I hear about Richard grades in

school

no it's been fooling around this house

for you every year oh this place got the

name of melody Manor no some 50 years

ago this house was owned by dr. Travers

crazy he was murdered right where you

are

he had a wife and a son Richard grave

this boy was in love with a little girl

down the road and every night he'd go

the attic window and play a certain

melody or his smile it was his way of

saying good night work and now comes

Grayson scope now goes Nora Ranford a

hook one night when young crane was

playing his violin the guard didn't

appear he had run away with a fella from

the city

I'm say Gray's went crazy

some say that she wandered away anyhow

he was never seen mr. Uganda

oh you can't down this is brand Osberg

I'm pleased indeed I'm glad I know you

sir may I present mr. Carter how do you

do mr. Graham how I am and mr. Waddell

the pleasure I'm sure

all members of the swing club I'm

honored e-beam your recent achievements

will be a brilliant addition to the

annals of criminology Elza Bullock a

toreador yes I can for you girl waters

for me thank you again

Rankin okay to this a gentleman sir I

asked him if there was to be an answer

and he said that you would know the

answer

take a look at that Rand what he suppose

this means means divide the locks for

that by the purpose circle thought maybe

I see that

evil is on the way I get the impression

of enough

can it be a new

no it's not a new

my habit

it's a stream yes it is a stream

gentlemen evil is on the way

tight with a string a string can't you

be a little more definite I'm sorry but

not at the moment

mr. Uganda hasn't any faculty proceeding

into the jitter tonight of all nights

Colonel Walters you will require

protection and I appreciate your

interest that I'm sure it's all just a

bluff

well nevertheless we're going to melody

matter with you tonight

yes Franken Miss Parker is here sir Miss

Parker here yes sir I've shown her into

the library she says it's urgent

excuse me gentlemen no idea what is it

has anything happened not so loud

ran where are you going tonight what a

kernel about this place

melody matter you mustn't why not were

you taking mine promise me that you

won't go there tonight summer I don't

understand what do you mean I mean that

if you love me you you'll do as I say

why of course I love you but surely you

must have some reason I have you promise

to resign from the Sphinx Club didn't

you what I want you to do it no that's

impossible

I've got the stamp I can't 11:00 tonight

his life's been threatened yes I know

I trust your partner's inclusion I was

seeking the telephone oh that's quite

all right

Oh Miss Parker may I present mr. Uganda

my malady need do mr. Uganda is going to

be my successor in the Sphinx Club mr.

Truesdale on the phone sir oh pardon me

my attorney

what is the truth eh oh no pardon the

deception but this is not true sir

then what a devil is it wonder would

suggest that a woman's advice is

sometimes good say what the deuce now

you're showing me that you carried out

the instruction yes are you part of it

yeah the waters is in there yes I know

what is to be done must be done tonight

the slightest mistake would prove most

dangerous remember oh yes

India is poetic beautiful exquisite I

was just telling miss part about some of

the charms of my own country Oh Brandon

must be one I'm afraid most Americans

picture India is overrun by squatting

gentlemen rendering flute concerts the

snakes again I must have followed it or

not at all

do you wanted to telephone yes well

you'll find it in the hallway just to

the left oh thank you have it run along

now all right darling

I wonder what's keeping the grave-robber

we gotta get tired I'm sorry I had to be

what are the plans pen pal Kimmy and our

third item I pop they take a circle my

strike that festival got another demand

or not I'm afraid I can't get out there

before he left

that's alright my execution is set for

midnight we face Peter brand of the

burns menorahs nurse being alone in an

old mansion after nightfall isn't one of

her many times when I pass this old

house here and heard that strange melody

played on his plan and every time that

maybe his hair

hoping

something wrong happens to somebody

America

whatever your hands

for you the gentleman who gave you some

good advice then perhaps you'll be good

enough to explain this unannounced visit

certainly I don't wanna spend us a visit

the other day we're returning all the

crooked cycle a exactly

listen brethren you think you're going

to sleep telomer Parker tonight well

you're not sounds like we're going to

have company hey you Brewin a whistle

now I was thrown enough to sing well

what's going on I said it guy caught up

there and doing that one it come on over

get him what's the idea get off hurry up

but look that phone puts it from neglect

of duty it's all your fault

well we'll come on

with that handle give me that

put those hands up what kind of party is

this it's all right officers he didn't

get very far burglarizing my apartment

your apartment

I seen approached wouldn't with it runs

over close of a room yeah and I come to

ya might come to I tell you this is my

apartment

this man forced me the party become to

change clothes with him take him away

boys I think he's crazy

if you'll novice criminal to escape I'll

have you both dismissed

nonsense officers take him away

suppose this guy's on the level we've

been an awful chance

yeah we wanna die let me think we're

going to do let's take them both in just

what I was going to say

and the can't we take in a matter over

I've decided there's some doubt as to

the identities and so I'm going to run

his both in we notice the just a moment

is any doubt in your mind I can

certainly quickly

the ranking I warned Franken you rings

up we kill these officers who is master

here why you ask

well right you wouldn't hey you know

hottest point is never saw him before in

my life

why your rattlebrain just what I thought

come on yo tell me you tell way to make

it home yeah come on Mike to another one

you say they use their for a

second-story job yeah and I picked him

too damn right

pick them now listen I demand to be

heard my name is Brian husband and my

name is sergeant Murphy

and I can't tell you how glad I am to

meet you comedy take me to captain drake

I'm a personal friend of here we gotta

get to the river the camera

captain bacon another friend here sir

hello captain why Brian heartburn has

brought me in what did this mean the

Crim aboard a mint a white Parliament Oh

sir

right I am

brought him into I never heard of such

stupidity yeah that's not the half of it

but I'm late for an appointment now

captain if you'll walk out with me I'll

give you the lowdown on the whole story

why did you have to come here at

midnight you look at the clock and fifty

years ago it's struck thirteen and old

mr. Gradin again it's stroke thirteen

and old me raisin was founded he took

thirteen

beware beware

in fact oxcarts 13 I'll be more than

beware I'll be gone

Nora haha when you certainly got what

you wanted as those the hills and has

isolated a clue no doubt filled with

fragrant memory and traditions of a

death path

come along I'm anxious show you the

place oh I'm sorry you got a headache

sir

you think of the mr. Gondo

please keep that clock please Pirlo

didn't get out of that chair Nora that's

the matter with you

well there's a ghost in the house and he

plays the violin and when he does did

you get all this rock a queer old man

Johnson to cheer me up

Parker's apartment oh hello Margaret a

call Miss Parker please one sighing -

soccer isn't here sir but I had an

appointment with her ten o'clock where

did she go well I really shouldn't say

sir but she did mention something about

a melody Manor

what vacuum you read us a melody Manor

and every time it goes play that violin

somebody's L&R ghost turn in yes sir but

maybe this one doesn't know it's one ha

ha ha Nora you know what a myth is yes

sir a female right Nora doesn't suppose

he has a for melody manner if you like

her story organda evil it's on the way

the door to see you sir says he's a

neighbor but he looks like a myth

how do you do sir how do you do I live

in the little house the foot of the hill

they brought you these Thanks I'm very

founder tomatoes are you sir I'm so

plain

my name is Walters whom am i indebted

for this gift they call me

Armand the hermit but no one ever sees

me I'm too sick for yes and now why

honor us for the visit I always visit

the folks in this house first

no telling how long they'll be here

what's he mean by that

it ain't often folks lived in this house

since the Graysons died

but reason we're things about this house

but I ain't afraid to clear things I

ain't afraid of nothing

I hear Grayson sometimes I think he says

to me he liked me and I liked him cause

he ain't people he's a ghost

yes sir he's a ghost

yeah drop in again sometime

evil is on the way

I guess that's brand Harry if you don't

mind

certainly hey what's eating you

where's Velma I'm sure I don't know

she's not here wait a minute brand

that's matter with you plenty half an

hour after you left my apartment I was

stuck up by one of the members of the

crooked circle and that is know for some

unknown reason Selma begged me not to

come here and then I found that she'd

suddenly left the melody matter I've got

to find her there's no need to worry she

will be here

listen if you know anything about this

climate why is that climate what do you

mean what firemen nevermind I stopped

where the guy was pointing a pot road

come on now which one of you guys done a

- poor boy hi Oh was you

oh that's different again I never notice

you uh-huh I didn't know it was him the

last sitting on me

hey what is this a nuthouse come on or

what if you see anything anything move I

mean come on

brats criminals good enough Canadian or

I'd rather stay here all right you and I

will try the Attic just again you happen

to be armed always and I depend on you

to watch this hawk

Egyptian

probably valuable

yes I understand all dr. Grayson a quite

a collection one time

by luck is everybody crazy around here

are just a couple he is don't talk don't

talk

I heard the violin you heard a violin

but what would you do if you heard a

full orchestra

sturdy-looking chap doesn't he I wonder

who he was

perhaps you'd better go downstairs and

join brand also sure Nora that her

phantom Fiddler's down on tour rather

disappointment - I should like to make

his acquaintance

just a can of glue I'll be down

presently I'm Parker rummage around

well at your pumpkins Andy's fiddling

goals I'm not looking for any fiddling

ghosts I'm looking for though not now I

take it easy old man beat me come on how

do you expect me to be calm in the

circumstances like being by the way

didn't you say the Miss Parker was the

accomplished violinist

well yes years uh-huh that's interesting

what do you mean oh nothing nothing at

all a very charming accomplishment

playing the violin

I thought it best that I come there's

not well that you'll be alone too much

you hear that violin right here in this

room it was been in this room Vanda I

think perhaps we better join the others

criminy oh please don't leave me here

not to last at 12 o'clock anyway not a

sound not very fond of music - well if

you ask me

I take this ghost up as a lot of holy

our ghostly friend has just entertained

me in the your head that melody is

anything

hi boys Donna nobody ban what's going on

I'm a guy with a rag on his head

what kind of a house is this it's the

kind of a real thing gonna stay in come

on that's going here don't what you you

go through there see what you can find

I'll meet you here in a few minutes okay

but you're going to do exactly that

and

or I beg your pardon miss darkman I did

not recognize you

Uganda what are you doing here merely

pursuing evil talk sense have you seen

anything of Miss Parker I'm sorry to

report that I have not we've got the

concentrate on finding Miss Parker

let's go from how to top the colonel

office that would be impossible

impossible

what do you mean Colonel Wallis has

disappeared disappeared when when the

lights went up

come on Uganda

alright nobody in any of them rooms I

know buddy anyways as far as I can see

that's not very far

yeah well if you ask me were all going

around in a cycle circle right the

crooked circle they promise Colonel ball

is they get him I guess they did well

when you tell me to threaten them uh you

know time circle guys is tough babies

that wasn't born it was quarry we know

all about that primer what we don't know

is what happened to Colonel Wohlers just

one

Colonel Wallis revolver that proves he

was in this room

yeah I wonder if there any Pig doors of

secret passages here just what I was

gonna say

I know I know prawns on it look it's

Colonel daughters he's dead

strangled a violin string your Gandy

said evil was on the way with a string

what's happened poor little chap

they got him after all it was written

that evil was on the way didn't I say it

would be tied with a string trimmer

get the coroner no no don't do that why

not well it would be better to consider

search for Miss Parker without

interference oh wait a minute

I'm an officer the law don't overlook

that right hey by the way bran before

you've gotten you tonight the clear

acting hunchback brought in a basket of

tomatoes

that's strange Uganda not nora bringing

those tomatoes certainly miss Ogden are

we gonna eat

now listen creamer before this happened

Colonel Walters was in the Attic you go

up there and see what you can find uh

what could you find in an attic ah so

you're afraid huh I thought so

all right taking me on a huh all right

I'll share [ __ ] up on that attic [ __ ]

up a to annex Samuel oh yeah uh-huh well

I'll show you well what's the idea of

interfering with an officer in the sky

give us Tony well it's alright to be in

a hurry but take a time apart and let go

of it

did you send to these

nor you must be calm but the Walters is

dead come on or sit down

I tell you colonel Walters wasn't

strangled you can go Nora we're go to

the attic and stay with crema but I

don't like attic run along Nora there's

no place for you

if he'd been strangled his lips and

nostrils would show it then what do you

suppose killed him I don't know but

maybe was poisoned we'd better keep

these for the coroner

me I should say not I make no bones

about a thing like that

is that good or is that good

I guess I guess maybe we better be

hey what's the matter when you [ __ ] you

[ __ ] that thing away now whatever what

get me don't do that come over and talk

to me when you come in nah come on old

man

now take it easy what is it what is it

oh wait a minute sign out of what is it

all right all right

now Shh now let's start it all over

again Hey all right I got it

you heard that melody what's matter - I

was chased by the ghost of sir

ha ha yes it an old man sit up and sit

what school what's my kick me you've got

the niftiest case of heebie-jeebies I've

seen in a long time nerves are tricky

Kings but a slug of this makes a person

yearn for good

brand okay

the strangest thing just happened

creamer disappeared what do you mean he

was sitting in that chair

I turned to pour him a drink like this

then I tried to give it to him

he was gone well then what happened I

took the drink myself - well we're

looking for everybody else

Oh Harry Harry you run along I've got to

think it over

not now I'll keep keep hold of yourself

old man keep hold of yourself come on

Laura

we'll try the rear of the house

start apprised

Marie

oh you frightened me well you didn't do

me much good either

what's the matter someone's making you

walk home no I I was taking a shortcut

my car broke down

yeah well it stands phony to me I don't

have put you to rest only I got a murder

on me hands Oh murder who was killed guy

named Colonel Wallis oh I see yeah well

I wish I did

oh come on sister you better beat it all

right captain

good night all right

go ahead Wow well this is a pleasure

won't you sit down thank you

what do you intend to do first I'm going

to call for reinforcements then you're

going to lead me to Farmer Parker RL did

you ring sir Rankin yes sir Franken what

are you doing here

who rang sir you know this man Rankin I

never saw him before in my life

well that's exactly what you said about

me this afternoon in my apartment when

this man infernal businesses

the last time I saw mr. Kramer he acted

kind of funny

oh do you think that his mind might be

wander don't worry his mind couldn't

wander very far where did I hit him on

the head fortunately he's your man take

it easy you're alright that's your life

I'm alright woman a very charming person

when he fell

you had a narrow escape I came

face-to-face with a policeman they

suspect you Oh everybody no I'll take

care of him did Rankin Rath

yeah it's about 30 minutes ago my

goodness about the pen eating its call

for 115 115 well you just have enough to

make it not here here isn't it yes

I haven't got my oath you can depend on

me and you can depend on me so I rang

for Noren who do you suppose answered

the bell well in this house I wouldn't

be surprised if it was Christopher

Columbus I rang the bell and in walked

ranking Rankin well can you beat that

for service why my head feels like a

bass drum yeah Platinum tea huh by the

way criminal what did happen to you well

I was swinging a rolling pin and mr.

kemeras had happened to come on that's

all right Nora we'll get you another

rolling pin did anyone see that if you

ask me I think he killed Colonel Walter

I wouldn't say those things never fire

you unless I had a reason come to think

of a brand you'll gain a good objective

call in the corner just what I was gonna

say grandma would you mind sitting in

that chair for a moment I wouldn't sit

in that chair by half a moment well

there's nothing wrong with it there's

nothing wrong with the electric chair

like push the button

hey what were you looking for you heard

that shot didn't you

I've met this little gun before well

would you take they put dead people in

balloons ah what do you care is longhand

in one of them all right

you know this thing is turning and it

will mr. Eagers worse than that it's a

nightmare come on I think we all better

go back to the house the dreary place

gentlemen Uganda I believe you know more

about this case than you pretend to know

mr. husband surely you do not question

my integrity well frankly I do in fact I

question it so strongly I'm inclined to

instruct the police officer to make your

arrest

yeah and they'd only have to unstruck

them once there are no facts to mebut

dissection and I resent it

oh you do eh well you ladder lay your

cards on the table right now or be taken

into custody suppose suppose I couldn't

would need you to miss Parker will then

induce you to forget my arrest well of

course it would where is she what a man

now the law is the law if this guy needs

a rustle he's gonna get it I'll be

responsible very well I will promise to

reveal everything will you come with me

all right but look here remember is if

you're tricking us it's gonna be tough

sledding for you

now gentlemen be as quiet as possible

when I say stay Brody took a chance I

can't go in that great well stay here

they're gonna jump up in the air and

post

gentlemen this is extremely dangerous

you wish to proceed

put up your hands all of you and don't

anyone move

gentlemen I want to introduce to you the

crooked circle counterfeiters and fees

deluxe first I shall present the leader

your faithful servant Rankin I'm sorry

you forced me to shoot and here mister

husband is an old friend it seems

inevitable that we should meet every

hour or so yeah and there's a look you

won't be meeting again from manic stage

a make a stop at I'm a warrior and here

are a pair of King Emmanuel and Louie

King and now to redeem my promise

miss Delma Parker Salma

I can't believe it

I get some woman OH

Krim are you idiot I can break your

confounded name come on Harry

that would be you

come on Pema they must have gone this

way

wha what way over there and line up come

on hurry up

Thelma

what's the meaning of all those tell me

not now brand please I could give you an

earful so your automobile breaks down

huh while stutter your alibi

and this is mr. von Rainey the only

woman member of The Crooked Stick

the ladies ring oh yes almost forgotten

many thanks your ring was most necessary

to our little deception

what a splendid help you turned out to

be I've been tied up for hours why I'm

glad this is over

thinking you're Gandhi don't you think

you oh yes massage but I think it's time

that I deduce matter the Secret Service

yes that miss Parker's my valued

assistant Thomas you and the Secret

Service yes friends I'm sorry I couldn't

tell you before but a lot of pain

where've you been

come on out which one of you guys is

trying to start this thing all over

again

I'm sitting it's here in this room here

I see that raising tomatoes and not your

only hobby mr. ha all right you better

stay here and help trimmer I don't make

no help just what I was gonna say

suppose Uganda's voice I came out of the

chair

this is the source of your ghostly music

here the old maestro himself as one of

them things in every room this is my

house and it took it away from me

and I swore I wouldn't have it no

electorate and I checked them out that

method for years I just played my violin

and Reagan came around and installed

these things and made it very easy

Richard gracious ghost come on professor

enjoy the Yorkist oh come on not to rob

Harmons not one of the circles he's got

an eccentric or musician oh and when you

please step over here provideniya mine

well

sounds like the police are coming in

last

right

all right after iPhone before wagon you

may take it on okay

i'ma turn my hip

come on keep your keep on running it's

senior year I came to oh you did have a

part down on it and let me show Lee's

poisoning page kidding at morning and

then the guy that likes go screaming

with a basket of tomatoes and started

telling us

the matter with you

he is real you all gone crazy now let me

explain Colonel waters since midnight

I've held you in a state of suspended

animation we have in your quickly

practices for war I practiced on Colonel

Walters because I knew that the

criminals would not attempt to kill a

man who apparently was dead

well you better come along report to the

lieutenant a little towns got away I got

a murder on me hands of murder

where in there yeah hey Ronnie that's

right but I'm a friend and of course

I've read enough okay ready

[ __ ] this mortar take it away take it

away the Walters isn't dead trimmer he

is told that he he is to dead isn't he

dead

I've seen him deader it's all right up

here the mystery of saw at my baby yo

well it's down in my book is Moya hey

before you've gone I'm gonna marry the

first man I need Brooke

my name is crema just what I was going

to say