The Gaunt Stranger
Introduction '''''The Gaunt Stranger''''' (released  as '''''The Phantom Strikes''''' in the US) is a 1938 British mystery thriller film directed by Walter Forde. It stars Sonnie Hale, Wilfrid Lawson and Alexander Knox.
Plot A notorious killer, long believed to have died in Australia, returns to England seeking revenge for the death of his sister. The "Ringer" threatens to murder the criminal mastermind Maurice Meister. Detective Inspector Alan Wembury is assigned to the case and, despite his strong dislike for Meister, attempts to protect him with the reluctant assistance of another criminal, Sam Hackett, who has been released from prison as he is the only man able to identify the "Ringer". Even with his help, Wembury struggles to unmask their target before the time at which Meister is due to be killed.
Cast *Sonnie Hale as Samuel Cuthbert "Sam" Hackett*Wilfrid Lawson as Maurice Meister*Louise Henry as Cora Ann Milton*Alexander Knox as Dr Lomond*Peter Croft as John Lenley*George Merritt as Police Station Sergeant*Patrick Barr as Det. Insp. Alan Wembury*John Longden as Inspector Bliss*Patricia Roc as Mary Lenley*Arthur Hambling as Detective Sergeant Richards*Charles Eaton as Colonel Walford
Production and release The film was made by and at Ealing Studios, and was the company's first release after Michael Balcon's appointment as head of production. It was based on the 1925 novel ''The Gaunt Stranger'' by Edgar Wallace, which had been renamed ''The Ringer'' in 1926, and which Forde had previously adapted as ''The Ringer'' in 1931.So the 1939 film used the original novel title, although the opening credits state that it is based on Wallace's novel ''The Ringer''. The film was screened by the censors on 4 October 1938, but didn't premier until 10 January 1939, when it opened at Gaumont Haymarket as second film in a double bill with ''The Cowboy and the Lady''. It was, however, popular enough for a British re-release in 1945.
See also * ''The Ringer'' (1928)* ''The Ringer'' (1931)* ''The Ringer'' (1932)* ''The Ringer'' (1952)* ''Der Hexer'' (1964)
References IMDB give John Longden as Inspector Wembury, in fact Patrick Barr played this part.
Bibliography * Low, Rachael. ''Filmmaking in 1930s Britain''. George Allen & Unwin, 1985. * Perry, George. ''Forever Ealing''. Pavilion Books, 1994. * Wood, Linda. ''British Films, 1927–1939''. British Film Institute, 1986.
External links *  ''The Gaunt Stranger'' at the British Film Institute*