The Bat

 

 (imdb)

THE BAT-1959-Mystery writer Cornelia von Gorder (Anges Moorehead) stays in a house called “The Oaks” where evasive murderer “The Bat” committed homicide several months before. Cornelia's maid Lizzy (Lenita Lane) talks about vampire bats. Meanwhile, a bank VP, uncovers a million-dollar bank theft. The prime suspect seems to be Victor Bailey (Mike Steele), an innocent clerk. Then in the Northwest, bank president John Fleming (Harvey Stephens) and his doctor, Malcohm Welles (Vincent Price) are on vacation. John reveals that he took the million and now wants the doc to help him fake his own death. When a forest fire breaks out, the doc shoots and kills John. 

Back at The Oaks, Lizzy talks about The Bat ripping out women's throats and sees a clawed hand at the door. It's apparent a sinister figure is prowling around so the two women barricade themselves in a bedroom and call the police. The figure gets in but is scared away by the cops. Later local police Lt. Anderson (Gavin Gordon) spies Welles experimenting with bats. Cornelia deduces that the embezzled money is hidden somewhere in the house and tries to figure out where. John's nephew Mark (John Bryant) gets involved trying to find the floor plans. A secretary named Judy (former female “Our Gang” member Darla Hood) turns up with testimony that could clear Victor. When it seems like Mark is the culprit, he's found dead in a secret room. The weird lieutenant tries to pin the murder on Warner, the butler (John Sutton), then Judy is killed. The Bat and Welles fight in his lab and the doctor is killed. In the secret room (where Cornelia nearly suffocates) they find a safe. Warner saves the day and the Bat's identity is revealed (it's easy to figure out; there's hardly anyone left). 

This was the third remake of the story which is based on a 1920 stage play based on a 1908 book. Director/co-writer Crane Wilbur (screenwriter of HOUSE OF WAX (1953)) doesn't do much to update the plot so it's rather dated but still entertaining in its way.

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Sinful

YELLOW CARGO-1936-Narcotics agent Alan O'Connor (Conrad Nagel) is hired to investigate the smuggling of illegal Chinese immigrants on the East Coast. A female reporter Bobbie Reynolds (Elenor Hunt), described as a “goofy dame” and her clumsy photographer Speedy (Vince Barnett) are investigating a movie studio (Globe Productions) which is just a front for the illegal alien trade run by Brace (director Crane Wilbur) and Pirelli (Jack LaRue). O'Connor pretends to be Chinese for a while and Bobbie is kidnapped. Low budget quickie with lines like “Drop them sticks and stick 'em up or I'll let ya have it”. 

The movie is also known by the less offensive title: SINFUL CARGO.

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Mad Magic

THE MAD MAGICIAN-1954-Gallico the Great (Vincent Price) a guy who's made illusions for other magicians now wants to have his own act. Unfortunately before he can use his new buzz saw trick his pompous boss Ross (Donald Randolph) closes down his show (he also stole Gallico's wife). Ross gloats Gallico into killing him with his buzz saw. He puts Ross' head in a suitcase and his assistant Karen (Mary Murphy) who is engaged to Alan Bruce, a police lieutenant (Patrick O'Neal) takes his bag by mistake. After he gets it back he disguises himself as Ross and sneaks the real corpse into a college victory celebration bonfire. Then he creates a new identity. When his bitchy ex-wife Claire (Eva Gabor) shows up looking for Ross she guesses his secret and he kills her. He later creates a new illusion “The Crematorium” which rival magician The Great Rinaldi (John Emery) wants to steal. He too figures out Gallico's secret and so of course signs his own death warrant. Gallico impersonates Rinaldi but Alan uses fingerprints to figure it all out. Gallico almost burns Alan alive but Karen and the landlady help save him and Gallico is burned up in his own invention.

If you think THE MAD MAGICIAN was influenced by HOUSE OF WAX which Vincent Price starred in the year before you're probably right in more ways than one. It was written by HOW screenwriter Crane Wilbur, a very busy writer/director who's career went back to silent films. He and Price would work together again in 1959's THE BAT.

Although not having the budget of House of Wax, THE MAD MAGICIAN has some nice twists although Gallico's disguises aren't always that great. And once again his character really isn't a bad guy, it's mostly the people around him: a mean boss, a bitchy ex-wife, a rival performer. They insult him and try to cheat and steal and really “ask” to be killed.

German born director John Brahm had made several unusual film noirs (THE LODGER, HANGOVER SQUARE, THE UNDYING MONSTER) but soon after this went into television. Like HOUSE OF WAX, THE MAD MAGICIAN was also shot in 3-D! 

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