The Circus Queen Murder (1933)

Directed by Roy William Neill
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Turner Classic Movies)

Adolphe Menjou is Thatcher Colt, police commissioner of NYC, who goes on vacation only to end up being a detective anyway. The audience is in on the killer, so tension is provided not by whodunnit but how the murders will occur and who will get it. Most of the film takes place in a circus, which provides atmosphere and sets this apart from most early mysteries. There is a memorable scene with the killer leering through an opening at the apex of the circus tent as trapeze artists perform below. The soundtrack is a mix of howling wild animals, circus music and even African tribal music courtesy of cannibals who play an important role in the film. It's no White Zombie, but worth a look for aficionados of early horror and mystery.