Showing posts with label boris karloff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label boris karloff. Show all posts

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Superstition, Perhaps. Baloney, Perhaps Not

(alarmy)

 

THE BLACK CAT-1934-Peter Allison (David Manners) and his wife Joan (Jacqueline Wells aka Julie Bishop) on their way to Vichgrad, must share their honeymoon rail car with Dr. Vitus Werdeghast (Bela Lugosi) who's on a mission of vengeance after having spent 15 years in a POW camp. When the talkative driver (Herman Bing) smashes up their cab, the newlyweds are forced to seek shelter in the art deco home of the sinister Hjalmar Poelzig (Boris Karloff), the very man Werdeghast (who has a fear of cats) has come to see. Joan is injured in the crash. Poelzig is a traitor who has built his domain on a killing field. Besides that, he stole Werdeghast's' wife and daughter. Un-fortunately, both are now dead. Poelzig even has her preserved dead body. 


But Karin, the daughter is now actually Poelzig's lover/wife/prisoner. Still, he seems to lust for Joan. When the couple wants to leave, they are prevented by Werdeghast's servant (Harry Cording). Later, Joan meets Karin and Poelzig punishes her. Poelzig is a devil worshiper who plans to have a black mass with Joan as the special guest sacrifice. Werdeghast rescues Joan and tells him his daughter is still alive. With the help of his servant Werdeghast overcomes Poelzig and skins him alive. But when he tries to help Joan, dummy Peter mortally shoots him. Husband and wife escape as Werdeghast blows up the castle. 

This sometimes-disturbing pre-code, Universal horror film shows director Edgar Ulmer at his finest. He seems to be pushing the envelope with some of the situations that are only implied. This is also one of Karloff's best villainous roles with Lugosi giving a good performance, but his demise is kind of a letdown (couldn't he or Karloff had lived at the end of at least one of their movies?!). 

John Carradine has a small role as a satanic organist. Some of the other uncredited cult members include King Baggott, Symona Boniface (from 3 Stooges shorts), Michael Mark and Andy Devine.

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Sunday, May 18, 2025

One Scene Boris

 


TONIGHT OR EVER-1931-Opera singer Nella Vago (Gloria Swanson), though successful, is criticized by everyone because they say she sings without passion. She becomes infatuated with Jim Fletcher (Melvin Douglas) who's a gigolo to Bianca San Giovanni (Alison Skipworth). 

This was Melvyn Douglas’ film debut after starring in the successful Broadway production. Boris Karloff is in one scene as a butler. Director Mervyn LeRoy made LITTLE CAESAR the same year.

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Friday, March 14, 2025

All Talking All Night

 (imdb)


THE UNHOLY NIGHT-1929-Many murders are taking place during the worst fog ever in London. Lord Montague (Roland Young; later the star of the “Topper” series) survives an attack and is help to Scotland Yard where he meets Sir James (Claude Fleming) who's investigating. It seems there were 4 murders earlier and Montague knew and served with them all. The surviving members all agree to meet at the Lord's house. In another part of the house, James disrupts a seance being conducted by Dr. Ballou (Ernest Torrence) and his fiancĂ© Lady Violet (Natalie Moorland), Montague's sister. 

The remaining regiment includes Lionel Belmore, John Loder and John Miljan as the doomed Mallory who was disfigured in the war. After he's killed, everyone comes under suspicion. Then a woman Efra (Dorothy Sebastian) shows up. Almost immediately Hindu lawyer Abdul (uncredited Boris Karloff) shows up and reads a will from Efra's father, a traitor. The will seems to give a motive for killing and also for breaking up the regiment. They slowly unravel. 

Somehow over night the entire regiment save Montague is killed. James decides to have a kind of seance lead by the sinister looking mystic Sojin (Sojin Kamiyama; who turns out to be a good guy).

It's a crazy, confused and kind of convoluted ending with Karloff giving a weird performance with a strange accent. This was one of the handful of films actor Lionel Barrymore directed in his long career. He and Karloff had acted together earlier in THE BELLS (1926). It also suffers slighty from too much stilted talk. A problem that plagued many early sound films. 

Top billed Ernest Terrence later played Prof. Moriarty in SHERLOCK HOLMES (1932) (with Clive Brook in the titular role) but died the next year from complications from surgery. Karloff had made his “talkie” debut earlier in the year (in BEHIND THAT CURTAIN). Japanese actor Sojin Kamiyama was one of only 3 Asian actors to portray Charlie Chan (in THE CHINESE PARROT (1927)). The story for THE UNHOLY NIGHT was provided by playwright Ben Hecht.

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Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Karloff in The Wild West

 

 (imdb)

THE WILD WILD WEST-"The Night of the Golden Cobra"-1966-Intrepid government agent Jim West (Robert Conrad) and his equally intrepid partner Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) meet Mr. Singh (Boris Karloff), maharajah head of "The Golden Cobra", who wants West to teach his sons to kill. He also has a daughter, Veda (Audrey Dalton). West's assignment was to rescue a Col. Mayo (Simon Scott). Of course, Singh has an ulterior motive...

 Karloff is good in the lead, older but still Boris. Audrey Dalton a few years earlier was in three TV episodes of Thriller (One acting alongside Karloff). She also co-starred in the horror movies THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD (1957) and MR. SARDONICUS (1961). One of Singh's sons is played by James Westmoreland who under another name was in THE UNDERTAKER AND HIS PALS, also in 1966. Years later he was one of the asshole cops in DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE (1980). It's all over the internet that English actor Michael York plays another son but it's some other actor with the same name. 

One of 26 “Wild West” episodes directed by Irving J. Moore. Karloff was very active and memorable in the year of 1966, voicing the lead role in the classic “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”, also playing Mother Muffin on TV's “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.” and appearing 3 movies (including THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI)!

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Thursday, August 15, 2024

Karloff on Live TV

 

 (imdb)

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE-1962-Live presentation by Hallmark of the classic play about the wacky Brewster family. In Brooklyn, the Brewster sisters (Dorothy Stickney & Mildred Natwick) poison lonely old men. They think they're doing a service and have their nutty brother Teddy (Tom Bosley) who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt bury the corpses in the Panama Canal (the basement). Their other nephew Mortimer (Tony Randall), a theater critic in love with Elaine (Dodie Heath), discovers their grisly hobby and plans to have "Teddy" committed after he discovers their latest victim in the window seat. Enter long lost brother Jonathan who thanks to drunken plastic surgeon Dr. Einstein (George Voskovec) resembles Boris Karloff (of course, it's more than a resemblance, the real Karloff plays him). Besides having a body in the trunk of his car, Jonathan also decides it would be the right time to kill Mortimer. 

It's great to see this live TV production (shortened from the play) especially since Karloff was not in the movie version. Randall's Mortimer is a little more subdued than Cary Grant but still holds his own. Czechoslovakian born stage actor George Voskovec had played the mild-mannered Juror #11 in 12 ANGRY MEN (1957).

Directed by George Schaefer who made many TV movies after this.

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Monday, May 20, 2024

Lewton/Karloff

 

 (TCM)

ISLE OF THE DEAD-1945-Another great Lewton/Karloff collaboration directed by Mark Robson. 

Hard-nosed and dedicated to his country Gen. Pherides (Karloff; also in THE BODY SNATCHER th same year)) and US reporter Oliver Davis (Mark Cramer) unintentionally visit the home of Swiss doctor Albercht (Jason Robards) who has a strange superstitious housekeeper (Helene Thimig) and some guests: diplomat St. Aubyn (future TV Batman butler Alan Napier), his wife Mary (Katherine Emery; later in THE MAZE (1953)), salesman Andrew Robbins (uncredited Skelton Knaggs) and the enigmatic Thea (Ellen Drew). Everything is ok until Robbins dies, and a doctor (Ernst Duetsch) says he has the plague. Pherides decides everyone must stay. The doctor says it should pass in a few days but Albrecht says it might be a wolf spirit disguised as a human. He and Pherides) make a wager, Albrecht will pray to Hermes for a cure and Pherides can put his faith in science.

 After St. Aubyn dies, his wife confesses to the doctor that she has a morbid obsession with being buried alive. He says he will do everything to make sure this will never happen. But then he dies. Somehow Davis and Thea fall in love. When Mary seems to die, Pherides blames Thea. They put Mary in a crate like coffin and of course she's not dead. Then the general falls ill. Mary escapes her tomb and now mad goes looking for people to kill. Her first victim is the housekeeper. Pherides thinks the killer is Thea. Mary stabs the general, then falls off a cliff. Pherides dies believing the evil spirit has been destroyed. 

Haunting thriller with Karloff leading a good cast. Ellen Drew later starred with Vincent Price in Sam Fuller's THE BARON OF ARIZONA (1950). Jason Robards was in BEDLAM with Karloff the next year.

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Saturday, April 27, 2024

It's Alive?

 

 (imdb)

THE STRANGE LIFE OF DR. FRANKENSTEIN-2018-Bizarre little documentary is not so much about the character of Dr. Frankenstein as it us about Mary Shelley's reasons and influences on writing her famous novel. Several writer-historians (and a plastic surgeon) give their opinions. Although they all don't really seem happy with it, Karloff as the monster is used a lot. Some modern-day mad scientists are also touched on like Vladimir Demikhov and his two headed dog experiments, Robert White and his monkey head transplants, Luigi Galvani's experiments with electricity and Eugenics freak Alex Carrel. This French production was directed by Jean Froment.

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Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Early Boris


 (imdb)

THE PUBLIC DEFENDER-1931-Rich playboy Pike Winslow (Richard Dix) is actually the mysterious crime fighter The Reckoner who investigates a group of corrupt businessmen who framed their partner, the father of Pike's childhood sweetheart Barbara (Shirley Grey; later in THE MYSTERY OF THE MARY CELESTE). He's assisted by the erudite Professor (Boris Karloff) and big lug Doc (Paul Hurst). They meticulously plan each attack they make on the bad guys looking for evidence to clear the wronged man. 

THE PUBLIC DEFENDER seems similar to "The Shadow", also created in 1931 and may have been an influence on the creation of Batman (although that was 8 years away). 

Star Dix was an Academy Award nominated best actor in 1931 (for the western CIMARRON, the first movie to win the best picture Oscar). Karloff was just a few months away from playing the monster in FRANKENSTEIN. Interesting ahead of its time crime drama directed by J. Walter Ruben. 

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Late Karloff

 

 
 (imdb)


TARGETS-1968-Famous horror star Byron Orlok (Boris Karloff) decides to retire. He feels he's too old to be working. His director Sammy (Peter Bogdanovich) tries to talk him out of it. His personal assistant Jenny (Nancy Hsueh) isn't happy either. Meanwhile, local boy Bobby Thompson (Tim O'Kelly) stockpiles guns and ammo. He seems to have something terrible in mind. 

Though it appears he has a nice family life with his parents and wife, his domineering father and guns seem to occupy his life. There's obviously something wrong but no one seems to realize it. While Orlok agrees to do a live drive-In appearance, Bobby goes on a killing spree. After shooting and killing from a tower overlooking a highway, Bobby hides out behind the screen of a drive-in movie where Orlok will make a personal appearance. After more killing, the two have a confrontation. (The real Karloff film THE TERROR is used on the screen). 

This is a great modern horror film made only because Karloff still owed producer Roger Corman a couple of days work and features one of Boris' best performances (his reciting of “The Appointment in Sumara” is awesome!) and it's only been in recent years that the film has been getting it's due. It was also release around the time of the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy which caused AIP to withdraw the film then re-release it with a prologue about gun control. 

This is Karloff's last great performance. He made THE CRIMSON CULT a little later and two TV appearances. His last movies unfortunately were the four productions for Mexican producer Luis Enrique Vergara but all of Karloff's scenes were shot in LA by Jack Hill. 

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Friday, April 5, 2024

Ghost on The Beach

 

 (imdb)

THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI-1966-Recently dead old guy Hiram Stokley (Boris Karloff; he did HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS the same year) is told by his dead sister Cicely (Susan Hart) that if he wants to go to heaven and be young again, he has to do one good deed. He decides to make sure his estate goes to his rightful heirs. Chuck Phillips (Tommy Kirk), "not very bright but a nice boy", Lili Norton (Deborah Walley), Myrtle Forbush (Patsy Kelly), plus his attorney Reggie Ripper (Basil Rathbone; in QUEEN OF BLOOD the same year) and his "vile sidekick" J. Sinister Hulk (Jesse White). 

After Myrtle's nephew Bobby (Aron Kincaid) and his friends arrive, Nancy Sinatra sings "Geronimo". The young people frug arrogantly and act dumb at the pool. Ripper introduces his daughter Sinestra (Quinn O'Hara) and she tries to kill Bobby. Then Princess Yolanda (Bobbi Shaw) and her Indian companion Chicken Feather (Benny Rubin) with a gorilla (George Barrows) show up to help get rid of the relatives. The Rats, a motorcycle gang led by Eric Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck) arrive because their stupid leader falls in love with The Princess. Then Stokley's butler Malcolm (Francis X. Bushman in his last movie role) shows up to warn Chuck to leave. Meanwhile, Stokley watches on a crystal ball and comments and Cicely intervenes to help. Chuck's not very bright friend gets terrorized by some fake monsters and the slapstick finale takes place in a torture chamber. The Bobby Fuller 4 also perform. 

Director Don Weis made this hokey dated beach movie but the old guys seem to having a good time.

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Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Bava

 

 (the moviedb.org)

BLACK SABBATH-1963-Three tales of terror are hosted by Boris Karloff in this Italian American co-production presented by AIP. 

The Drop of Water-A woman (Jacqueline Pierreux) is terrorized in her apartment after stealing a ring off a dead woman. Dripping water, weird lights and the dead woman seemingly back for revenge all help in the thief's demise. Credited as based on a story by Anton Chekov but he never wrote such a story.

The Telephone-A woman named Rosie (Michele Mercier) receives threatening phone calls from a man she thought was dead. Credited as a story by Tolstoy but not Leo, the author of “War and Peace” but a minor author Aleksei.

The Wurdaluk-A man (Mark Damon) stays with a family and awaits the return of their grandfather (Boris Karloff) who may now be a vampire. Based on a story by Guy de Maupassant. Usually said to be the only time King Karloff played a vampire.

Mario Bava directed this using lots of style and clever camera work. The original Italian version has a different story order, different music and alternate narration by Karloff. Plus an unusual ending for the vampire story. Bava made THE WHIP AND THE BODY the same year.

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Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Karloff is Back!

 

 (imdb)

THE HAUNTED STRANGLER-1958-Dr. James Rankin (Boris Karloff) investigates the case of Edward Styles, hanged as a murderer years before. He seems to feel that Styles' assistant Tenet who was later confined to an asylum might be more involved than first suspected. His wife (Elizabeth Allen) wants him to drop it. He has an assistant Dr. McCall (Tim Turner) who's in love with Rankin's daughter Lily (Diane Aubrey). Rankin and McCall find out a lot about Tenet and Rankin wants to exhume his body but superintendent Burk (Anthony Dawson) won't allow it, so Rankin digs it up himself! He finds a missing surgical knife believed to be the murder weapon which transforms him into a scary one-armed killer seeking vengeance. 

Of course, it turns out Rankin is Tenet protected by his wife who was a nurse at the asylum. After he kills her, he admits he's the murderer but no one believes him and he's committed to an asylum. He turns into Tenet and escapes. He goes on a killing spree but is eventually shot after menacing his daughter. 

Cool old style horror film directed by Robert Day with Karloff using facial expressions instead of make-up. Day and Karloff worked together on CORRIDOR OF BLOOD the same year.

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Thursday, November 30, 2023

Abbott,Costello and Karloff

 

 (binged.com)

ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE-1953-Slim & Tubby (Abbott & Costello) are two Americans working as bobbies on the English police force. After they are beat up by a group of suffragettes, they are thrown off the force. Vicky (Helen Westcott), the leader of the group who is also a music hall dancer, is romantically pursued by crime reporter Bruce (Craig Stevens) who is investigating the mysterious murders credited to a monster. It turns out this is true as her guardian happens to be Dr. Henry Jekyll (Boris Karloff) who transforms into Mr. Hyde when he wants to eliminate an enemy. Tubby figures out Jekyll's secret but no one believes him, especially their ex-boss the inspector (Reginald Denny). Jekyll tricks the duo into staying overnight at his house. While Tubby is snooping around, he's menaced by scary henchman Batley (John Diekes) and discovers Jekyll's lab. Later after they escape Tubby turns into a mouse. Jekyll wants to get rid of Bruce because he's in love with Vicky. Later when the doctor is outed as the monster, a big daylight chase takes place and Tubby becomes his own Mr. Hyde. 

Good comedy ensues when A & C are on screen and the presence of Karloff brings it up a notch. Eddie Parker appears mostly as Mr. Hyde. This was one of 9 Universal comedies director Charles Lamont made with the team. Although Karloff made several TV appearances, this would be his only feature film in 1953. 

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Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Agent Karloff

 

(tcm)

BRITISH INTELLIGENCE-1940-During WW1 German spies are causing much sabotage under the leadership of the mysterious Hans Strendler. British Intelligence is called in to help and send a plane to pick up their best agent but the plane picking him up is shot down. The pilot Frank Bennett (Bruce Lester) is taken to the hospital and nurse Helene (Margaret Lindsey) takes care of him. He seems to fall for her but she abruptly leaves. With good reason she's a German spy! Later she's placed in the home of cabinet minister Bennett (Holmes Herbert), Frank's father where scarred limping butler Valdar (Boris Karloff) seems to be a double agent working with Colonel Yates (Leonard Mudie). 

There are several twists in this patriotic spy story directed by Terry O. Morse whose last work would be the credited director for the added American scenes in GODZILLA; KING OF MONSTERS (1956). One of 9 movies King Karloff appeared in 1940 along with THE TOWER OF LONDON, THE APE and Mr. Wong entries.

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Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Karloffnaut

 

 (imdb)

JUGGERNAUT-1936-Dr. Satorius (Boris Karloff) is in Morocco researching a cure for fractured paralysis, but his funding is terminated. Relocating to the French Riviera, he has a strange manservant named Jacques (Gibb McLaughlin). He hires a nurse and is visited by Lady Clifford (Mona Goya), the wife of a cotton millionaire (Morton Seltin)), who's having an affair with Halliday (Anthony Ireland), a guy who lost all his money gambling. Lady Clifford promises Satorius a fortune if he becomes her hubby's live-in doctor but with an ulterior motive of course. Son Roger (Arthur Margetson) arrives and Dad tells him he is to be sole heir to his money. Suddenly he falls ill. 

This convoluted little murder mystery seems like casting Karloff was an afterthought. Director Henry Edwards made SCROOGE (with Seymour Hicks in the title role) the year before.

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Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Boris On Devli's Island

 

 
 (imdb)

DEVIL'S ISLAND-1939-Dr. Charles Gaudet (Boris Karloff) is charged with treason after giving aid to a convicted traitor Le Brun who was shot escaping. The court judges (including Frank Reicher & Leonard Mudie) sentenced him to 10 years in the infamous penal colony. He's given hard labor by the pompous ignorant warden Col. Lucien (James Stephenson) who brands him a troublemaker. When one convict (John Harmon) with tuberculosis asks for the night off, the island doctor tells him he's just lazy despite pleas from Gaudet to put him in the hospital. Later after his appeal is turned down, Lucien needs Gaudet to operate on his young daughter. Madame Lucien (Netta Harrigan) is very grateful but Lucien couldn't care less. He has Gaudet's mates killed and puts the doc in "The pit". A black prisoner (Earl Smith) and Mme Lucien plot to help Gaudet escape. He and 5 other prisoners do escape but before almost dying at sea they are picked up by another prison ship (John Hamilton is the captain) going to Devil's Island. Through some stolen papers, Gaudet learns Lucien is corrupt. Lucien plans to have Gaudet guillotined at dawn. Fortunately, Mme. L gets word to the governor and Gaudet is saved and pardoned. 

Good little Warner Brothers drama with nice production values directed by William Clemens who oddly enough was also directing the “Nancy Drew” series of films at the same time for the studio. Some familiar character actors appear including George Lloyd, Henry Cording and Pedro de Cordoba.

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Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Not A Horror Movie!

 

 
 (imdb)


INVISIBLE MENACE-1938-A dumb GI named Eddie (Eddie Craven) sneaks his new bride Sally (Marie Wilson) into his army base for their honeymoon. When a scientist is viciously murdered everyone is a suspect. Especially Dr. Jevries (Boris Karloff). Col. Hackett (Henry Kolker), Lt. Matthews (Regis Toomey) and Dr. Brooks (Charles Trowbridge) investigate. Later Col. Rogers (Cy Kendall) is called in. They seem to want to railroad Jevries for the murder. 

Routine murder mystery only remembered for Karloff and the title. Director John Farrow (father of Mia) had directed Karloff a year earlier in WEST OF SHANGHAI.

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Monday, July 31, 2023

Arliss and Karloff

 

 (tmdb)

THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD-1934-Historical drama about the rise of Mayer Rothschild (George Arliss) from his beginnings in a Jewish ghetto in Frankfort to his rise as Europe's most powerful banker. After his death, the story focuses mainly on son Nathan (also Arliss). He lends millions to the English government to help Wellington (C. Aubrey Smith) defeat Napoleon. Then one of Wellington's men wants to marry Rothschild's daughter (Loretta Young). This could be complicated since he's not Jewish. Later Rothchild runs into opposition in the form of antisemitism headed by Baron Ledrantz (Boris Karloff). When Napoleon escapes and mounts a new offensive, Rothschild backs England with everything he's got, nearing financial ruin but Wellington is victorious and England is back on top. Some prints feature the final scene in color. 

Solid historical drama with a few inaccuracies (but what Hollywood story doesn't have them?), ably directed by Alfred Werker, who later made THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1939) with Rathbone and Bruce, A HAUNTING WE WILL GO (1942) with Laurel and Hardy, SHOCK (1946) with Vincent Price and HE WALKED BY NIGHT (1948) with Richard Basehart.

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Monday, July 10, 2023

Bees on TVs

 

 (imdb)

THE ELGIN HOUR-THE STING OF DEATH-1955-In the English countryside, a pompous honey loving Prof. Stillchester (Robert Flemyng; later in THE HORRIBLE DR. HITCHCOCK) meets the seemingly eccentric Dr. Mycroft (Boris Karloff) who proposes the theory that local beekeeper and honey producer Hargrove (Martyn Green) is raising killer bees. They team up to try and stop him. Mycroft's maid Alice (Hermione Gingold) puts in her 2 cents also.

 It's based on a novel “A Taste for Honey” by Gerald Heard and was later the basis for the Amicus produced THE DEADLY BEES in 1967. Like a lot of these early anthology TV series, it's almost like a filmed play, with Karloff giving a great performance. 

Some have pointed out that Karloff's character is named Mycroft which was the name of Sherlock Holmes' brother, leading to a conclusion that the character may be Holmes' brother or the great detective himself, now retired. One of 8 series entries directed by Daniel Petrie who went on to work much more in TV and movies (RAISIN IN THE SUN (1961), THE NEPTUNE FACTOR (1973), COCOON: THE RETURN (1988)).

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Monday, July 3, 2023

Karloff's Ghoul

 

 (imdb)

THE GHOUL-1933-0n his deathbed Prof. Morlant (Boris Karloff) prays to the Egyptian God Anubis and gives instructions to his servant Laing (Ernest Thesiger). It seems Morlant had a sacred jewel "The Eternal Light" in his possession. His lawyer (Cedric Hardwick) seems to want it. He tries to dissuade Morlant's nephew and heir Ralph (Anthony Bushell) from visiting the estate. Ralph hooks up with his cousin, Morlant's niece Betty (Dorothy Hyson) and they investigate along with Betty's comic relief roommate Miss Kaney (Kathleen Harrison). At the place they meet the lawyer and the servant and a bike riding priest (Ralph Richardson). They are also visited by Aga Ben Dragore (Howard Huth), former owner of the jewel and the knife wielding Mamoud (D, A. Clarke-Smith) who becomes the professor's first victim when he comes back to life. Laing is next as he stole the diamond not believing his master would be back. After Morant dies again, there's a couple of twists in the finale and the cousins get trapped in the burning tomb. It also seems the whole premise was not really supernatural. 

This Gaumont British UK production is dark, quirky and dated. It was the first film Karloff made in his homeland in 20 years and did well in England but failed at the US box office. It's also the only film Karloff made after his brief departure from Universal Pictures (he later signed a new contract with them). 

The film was thought lost for many years. In the late '60's William K. Everson discovered a battered and cut version of the film in a vault in Czechoslovakia (with Czech subtitles). Much later a negative of the film was found and restored. Director T. Hayes Hunter retired soon after making it. A year after THE GHOUL, Karloff had two highly acclaimed non-horror roles in THE LOST PATROL and THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD and would get back into the horror swing of things in Edgar Ulmer's classic THE BLACK CAT (with Lugosi).

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