Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)

In the shadowy corners of 1921 London, Ivan Igor, a gifted sculptor, breathes life into wax, crafting creations so realistic they are perceived as his offspring. His dreams are encased within the walls of a small wax museum, a venture financially backed by the opportunistic Joe Worth. When profits fail to materialize, Worth, driven by greed, ignites the museum in a fiery blaze, intending to collect the insurance money. Igor's world crumbles, leaving him severely injured, confined to a wheelchair, his gifted hands now a mere shadow of their former glory. Fast forward to New Year's Day 1933 in the bustling heart of New York. Florence Dempster, a tenacious reporter, finds herself on the precipice of losing her job unless she can unearth a compelling story. The mysterious case of Joan Gale, a woman rumored to have committed suicide on New Year's Eve, provides the perfect opportunity. Florence finds herself plunged into a labyrinth of intrigue when she discovers that Joan's body has vanished from the coroner's office and her ex-boyfriend George Winton is suspected of foul play. Simultaneously, the wheelchair-bound Igor, haunted by the ghosts of his past, prepares to launch a new wax museum. His captivating creations are now shaped by lesser skilled artists under his direction, due to his crippled hands. Among the array of wax figures, one bears an uncanny resemblance to the missing Joan Gale, which doesn't escape Florence's keen eye. Meanwhile, Igor develops a disquieting fascination for Charlotte Duncan, the beautiful fiancée of his assistant Ralph. As Charlotte catches Igor's eerie interest, the lines between innocuous wax figures and chilling reality begin to blur. Florence, Charlotte's sharp-witted roommate, finds herself entangled in this enigmatic web, teetering on the edge of a mystery that threatens to consume them all.

Mystery of the Wax Museum is a horror movie featuring Lionel Atwill.

Mystery of the Wax Museum is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.