Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer
1934/USA
Universal Pictures
Second viewing
Highly enjoyable pre-Code Universal horror outing with boffo dual performances by Karloff and Lugosi.
Peter Allison: I don’t know. It all sounds like a lot of supernatural baloney to me.
Dr. Vitus Verdegast: Supernatural, perhaps. Baloney, perhaps not. There are many things under the sun.[/box]
Dr. Vitus Vendergast (Bela Lugosi) meets honeymooners Peter (David Manners) and Joan on a train and hitches a ride with them to their ultimate destination. On the way, the car goes off the road, the driver is killed and the party is forced to take refuge in the creepy modernist castle of Hjalmar Poelzig (Boris Karloff).
This suits Vendergast just fine as he is on a mission to make Poelzig, his sworn enemy, suffer slowly. Poelzig left Vendergast to rot in prison for 15 years then told Vendergast’s wife she was a widow and took her for his own.
Hjalmar Poelzig: The phone is dead. Do you hear that, Vitus? Even the phone is dead.
The movie is basically a duel of wits between Vendergast and Poelzig, who also has plans to use Joan as the sacrifice in a Black Mass. As for a black cat, well one wanders around, but it’s basically just an excuse to use the Edgar Allen Poe title
This is the kind of thing I just eat up. Sure it can be a little campy in places and Lugosi over-emotes furiously but that is part of the fun. The Expressionist cinematography and art direction are quite wonderful. Recommended for lovers of classic Universal horror.
Sorry, can’t agree with you on this one. The girl was ridiculous (what, she faints every time she draws breath?), the acting, schizophrenic, and there were so many plot holes I almost broke my leg falling in them. I like classic film of the thirties too, but this was just a “nope” for me.
To each her own! I think I am seduced by the visuals.
That’s the big point I WILL give this movie – I enjoyed the visuals very much. The sets are amazing – sort of gothic art deco construction. Credit definitely given there.
This is one strange movie….there is a little bit of everything going on here.But I believe the set decoration and lighting are indeed the appeal. Lugosi, who is always over the top, does not disappoint but seems to have two different names. Unfortunately I can’t remember exactly how they differ but he is introduced by one name (which is almost the same) and then becomes Vitas Verdigast. It is easy to miss.
Jill, I thought the contrast between the acting styles of Karloff and Lugosi really came into focus here. While Lugosi was hamming it up, I enjoyed watching some of Karloff’s great facial expressions.
I swear, Bea, I don’t think there was ever a film that Lugosi didn’t overact wildly. But Karloff was an actor…..he proved it in Frankenstein when he didn’t even have to speak. I think he was underrated and got stuck in the horror genre…….and nobody seems to take actors who play in horror films seriously.
I enjoyed The Black Cat mostly for being the reference point for The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The Black Cat is very amusing in the samme manner, corny beyond belief, but fun.
Glad to meet a kindred spirit who can enjoy a good “bad” movie!