Mystery Lake
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
George Fenneman
Gloria Mcgough
Bogue Bell
R. P. Alexander
Edgar Bergen
John Bodrero
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
On an assignment from University professor Dr. Sorenson, naturalist Bill Richards takes a field trip to Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee in the hopes of finding a suitable project for study. Bill is frustrated in his attempts to trap and study some of the native animals because each night, someone is mysteriously freeing the animals he has trapped that day. After Bill finally meets the culprit, area native Lainie Thorne, and explains that he is merely trying to study, but not harm the animals, she willingly agrees to help. They travel throughout the region so that Bill can photograph the animals in their natural habitat. Among the species that Bill is able to study are snakes, raccoons, swimming rabbits and flying squirrels. At a remote region of the area, they encounter a hermit, who destroys their boat, forcing them to flee through the swamps.
Cast
George Fenneman
Gloria Mcgough
Bogue Bell
R. P. Alexander
Edgar Bergen
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to the Variety review, the filmmakers were planning to release Mystery Lake in a 16mm version following its theatrical run. Reviews, which were very favorable, noted that the story was merely a backdrop for what was primarily a nature documentary, similar to the Disney True-Life Adventure series of documentaries. No release date has been located for the film, although it opened in San Francisco in December 1953.
According to an March 11, 1953 news item in Daily Variety, Bernice Lundin, as assignee for Larry Lansburgh Productions, had filed suit against Hallmark Productions. The suit charged that on April 21, 1952, "Lansburgh gave Hallmark a film, 'Mystery Lake,' with the understanding that Hallmark would either buy it for $72,5000 or pay him $3,500." The suit further contended that the deadline for payment had passed and Hallmark had neither bought the film nor paid Lansburgh. The final disposition of the suit has not been determined.
As noted in reviews, Lansburgh had previously worked for Walt Disney Studios for many years, serving both as producer and director on films such as Pinocchio and Cinderella (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1941-50). Lansburgh also worked on the 1954 Disney film Stormy, the Thoroughbred with an Inferiority Complex (see below).
