The Curse of the Hidden Vault (Die Gruft mit dem Rätselschloss)

The Curse of the Hidden Vault (Die Gruft mit dem Rätselschloss) Original German Poster Country West Germany Directed by Franz Josef Gottlieb Release Date 1964 Language German Studio Rialto Film Distributor Constantin Film Main Cast Character Actor Jimmy Flynn Harald Leipnitz Kathleen Kent Judith Dornys Mr. Real Rudolf Forster Barrister Spedding Werner Peters Connor Ernst Fritz Fürbringer George Klaus Kinski Inspector Angel Harry Meyen Ferry Westlake Eddi Arent Margaret Clayton Ilse Steppat Sir John Siegfried Schürenberg

The Curse of the Hidden Vault (Die Gruft mit dem Rätselschloss) is a 1964 German detective movie directed by Franz Josef Gottlieb and adapted from the 1908 novel "Angel Esquire" by Edgar Wallace. Kathleen Kent (Judith Dornys) arrives in London from Australia. Many years ago her father was driven into ruin and thus into suicide by gambling den owner Real (Rudolf Forster). Now, plagued by old age and remorse, Real wants to make the orphaned Kathleen the heiress of his riches that are kept in a crypt full with elaborated traps. But Real's accomplices, lead by Connor (Ernst Fritz Fürbringer), conspire to get the riches for themselves. Meanwhile Jimmy Flynn (Harald Leipnitz), Real's man in the past, is interested in Kathleen - but he also wants his share.

The film is the sixteen installment in the Rialto Film studio film series (1959-1972) adapted from the novels of Edgar Wallace and the second screen adaptation of the original novel after 1919 British silent film Angel Esquire.

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

The following weapons were used in the film The Curse of the Hidden Vault (Die Gruft mit dem Rätselschloss):

Arminius HW-1

Arminius HW-1 revolvers seen in hands of Jimmy Flynn (Harald Leipnitz), Inspector Angel (Harry Meyen), Kathleen Kent (Judith Dornys), Connor's accomplicies Massay (Herbert Knippenberg), Goyle (Harry Wüstenhagen), Bat Sand (Arthur Binder), Vinnis (Kurt Jaggberg) and Cyril (Kurd Pieritz), Real's barrister Spedding (Werner Peters), and police detectives (Lothar Mann and uncredited one) in the film-inside-film that is demonstrated in the cinema in the opening scene.

Arminius HW-1 starter revolver

Inspector Angel holds his revolver when he and his superior Sir John (Siegfried Schürenberg) recreate the murder in the cinema.

Kathleen Kent threatens Connor with the revolver that Ferry Westlake (Eddi Arent) taked from a stunned guard (Heinrich Gies) and gave to her.

Massay aims his revolver at Jimmy Flynn and Real during his visit to Real's house.

Goyle hides in the wardrobe to ambush Flynn when the latter visits Connor's house.

Flynn disarms Goyle and threatens the other gang members with the revolver.

Inspector Angel holds his revolver in the same scene.

The revolvers of Angel and one more Connor's accomplice, Bat Sand, are seen at the right.

Flynn threatens Real's barrister Spedding.

Spedding desperatly shoots the revolver when he finds himself trapped in Real's "treasure cave".

In the climactic scene Angel is seen through the sniper scope of George's gun.

Sten Mk II

In the film-inside-film that is demonstrated in the cinema in the opening scene a gangster (Artur Schilsky) is armed with Sten Mk II submachine gun. During the arrest of Connor's gang two of the police detectives hold Sten SMGs.

Sten Mk II (Canadian) - 9x19mm

The gangster in the film that is demonstrated in the cinema fires a Sten at police.

The gangster reloads.

A close view of the gangster's Sten.

A police detective returns fire.

A police detective holds a Sten during the arrest of Connor's gang.

Another detective with a Sten in the same scene.

Over and Under Rifle/Shotgun

George (Klaus Kinski) uses an over and under combination rifle/shotgun with sniper scope in several scenes. This gun is the same model as those used in The Ringer and Again the Ringer. In the climactic scene the gun is fitted with a mockup sound suppressor.

The shooter whose identity is revealed later aims his gun in the scene in Real's house.

George aims his gun in the climactic scene on the windmill. The mockup sound suppressor is seen perfectly.

George readies to fire.

Another view of George's gun.