Expert: Jim Kason - 1/19/2009

Question
As part of a book I am writing I am very eager to discover classic Hollywood or
other films of perhaps the 1940s or 50s in which a painting is turned round or
swung away from the wall to reveal something precious such as a bank safe. The
tradition continues in many recent films but it's the early or earliest examples
that interest me. Thank you for any help or information on how to get it.

Answer
Hi Richard,

I've been trying to find some early "wall painting" films for you,...and the only one I could find was "Charlie Chan in the Secret Service" (Monogram - 1944).  It had a hidden wall safe.

Other later films include:
Disney's "Blank Check" (1994)
Wallace and Gromit"The Wrong Trousers"( 1993)
"Seven" (Brad Pitt- 1995)

And the old TV series "Sherlock Holmes" from 1954 had a number of episodes with hidden
safes behind paintings.

There were a number of films with hidden passage-ways and entrances behind wall paintings.  And perhaps if you enter variations of  "...hidden behind (wall) paintings" or
"Hidden wall safes"...on Google, you may find a few more answers.

Another EXPERT, David Menefee is an expert on silent films, and I'll bet there are loads of
"wall safe" films he might know.

Sincerely,

Jim Kason