The Spider
“HOW MUCH THRILL CAN YOU STAND?”
Synopsis
Lowe plays Chatrand the Great, a magician with great hypnotic and magical powers. During his evening performance at an upscale theater, a murder occurs. A hand wearing a sinister spider ring raises a revolver, the lights go out, and a shot rings out! When the lights come on, the body of a patron is lying on the floor, dying. Who is the mysterious killer? What is the strange secret of Lowe’s clairvoyant, amnesia-plagued assistant? After the police restrain the audience from leaving, Lowe uses his magical powers to help expose the killer. Watch for the terrific séance scene where weird ghost-like creatures float above the stage.
Top Cast
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Edmund Lowe
Chatrand
Lois Moran
Beverly Lane
El Brendel
Ole
John Arledge
Tommy
George E. Stone
Dr. Blackstone
Earle Foxe
John Carrington
Manya Roberti
Estelle
Howard Phillips
Alexander
Purnell Pratt
Inspector Riley
Jesse De Vorska
Goldberg
Kendall McComas
The Kid
Ruth Donnelly
Mrs. Wimbledon
Ward Bond
Cop (uncredited)
Joyce Compton
Butch's Girl Friend (uncredited)
C.A. Beckman
Joseph Belmont
Violet Bird
Raymond Brown
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 27, 1931
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Kenneth MacKenna, William Cameron Menzies
- Screenplay & Story
- Barry Conners, Philip Klein
- Original Score
- Hugo Friedhofer, R. H. Bassett, Carli Elinor, Glen Knight
- Original Title
- The Spider
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 59m
- Production Studios
- Fox Film Corporation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Kenneth MacKenna, William Cameron Menzies
Barry Conners, Philip Klein, Fulton Oursler, Lowell Brentano
Hugo Friedhofer, R. H. Bassett, Carli Elinor, Glen Knight
James Wong Howe
Alfred DeGaetano
Department Leadership Roster
Kenneth MacKenna
Director
William Cameron Menzies
Director
Barry Conners
Screenplay
Philip Klein
Screenplay
Hugo Friedhofer
Original Music Composer
R. H. Bassett
Original Music Composer
Alfred DeGaetano
Editor
James Wong Howe
Director of Photography
Carli Elinor
Original Music Composer
Glen Knight
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Spider.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Spider
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Spider about?
Lowe plays Chatrand the Great, a magician with great hypnotic and magical powers. During his evening performance at an upscale theater, a murder occurs. A hand wearing a sinister spider ring raises a revolver, the lights go out, and a shot rings out! When the lights come on, the body of a patron is lying on the floor, dying. Who is the mysterious killer? What is the strange secret of Lowe’s clairvoyant, amnesia-plagued assistant? After the police restrain the audience from leaving, Lowe uses his magical powers to help expose the killer. Watch for the terrific séance scene where weird ghost-like creatures float above the stage.
Who directed The Spider?
The Spider was directed by Kenneth MacKenna, William Cameron Menzies.
Who stars in The Spider?
The principal cast of The Spider includes Edmund Lowe, Lois Moran, El Brendel, John Arledge, George E. Stone.
When was The Spider released and how long is it?
The Spider was released in 1931 with a total runtime of 59m.
Who composed the musical score for The Spider?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Spider was composed by Hugo Friedhofer, R. H. Bassett, Carli Elinor, Glen Knight.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Spider?
The Spider holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).