The Old Dark House
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Movie Reviews of The Old Dark House
Movie Review: Raging storm, trapped in a spooky mansion with psychopaths!
Summary: 5 Stars
For the vintage black-and-white mystery-thriller film purist, this 1932 Universal Pictures flick has it all: brilliant casting, stormy night, spooky mansion, vulnerable travelers, crazy residents... what more could anyone ask for? Now, while this is a very old film the sound is pretty darn good and the print quality is much better than what I had expected.
THE STORY: During a raging thunderstorm, several travelers are forced to stop and seek refuge at the Femm Family Mansion due to road wash-outs and landslides. The Femms, all pretty aged (along with their domestic spore), are as wacky as they come. Horace is bug-eyed, skeleton-ish, paranoid, and terrified while his sister, Rebecca, is as venomous as a mamba and notably inhospitable ("NO BEDS! THEY CAN'T HAVE BEDS!") -- but as it turns out, she's sort of the brains of the outfit. There's also Morgan the Butler (Karloff!), a depraved creature who becomes VERY dangerous to be around when he's drunk (which is most of the time). And, best of all, locked away upstairs is Saul, an ancient psychopathic, conniving, homicidal pyromaniac -- and sometimes he gets out!
The mixed gender travelers (portrayed in part by Raymond Massey and Charles Laughton) try to make the best of their situation by backing up to a blazing fireplace and filling their empty bellies over a meal of roast beef and potatoes, but the combination of the storm (which threatens to wash away the entire mansion!) and the depraved proclivities of the morbid and bizarre house residents take its toll before the night is over. The gothic ambiance of the venue serves to further generate lots of terror and thrills.
In private, Rebecca regales one of the jumpier female guests with a little story: "They were all godless here. They used to bring their women here - brazen, lolling creatures in silks and satins. They filled the house with laughter and sin, laughter and sin. And if I ever went down among them, my own father and brothers - they would tell me to go away and pray, and I prayed - and left them with their lustful red and white women."
The story is based upon a 1927 novel by J. B. Priestly, entitled "Benighted," and Benn W. Levey developed the screenplay. The film was directed by James Whale ("Bride of Frankenstein," 1935) and the Producer was Carl Laemmle, Jr. ("The Invisible Man," 1933). While he was not credited, the (original music) filmscore was composed by David Broekman. The movie runs for 72 minutes and the aspect is full-frame.
If you're into the "dark and stormy night" thing and you savor older films, you've hit the jackpot with this one!
(See my numerous Listmania lists for similar reviews and recommendations).
Movie Review: It really was a dark and stormy night...
Summary: 5 Stars
Any film that starts with the visual version of "It was a dark and stormy night" might otherwise be regarded with suspicion but not in the hands of director James Whale. Is it worth checking out? Absolutely as this is one of Whale's masterpieces using humor, some creepy imagery and a great cast (Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas, Raymond Massey, Gloria Stuart, Charles Laughton, Ernest Thesinger and other notable stage vets) to create a moody chiller with humor.
The extras include a thoughtful trivia filled commentary Gloria Stuart and a second commentary by Whale bigorapher and film historian James Curtis. Curtis Harrington provides a detailed introduction of how he became involved in saving the film, meeting Whale, etc. The video quality of this portion is so-so. The transfer of the film looks solid although it could use more digital cleaning up (like the recently reissued editions of "Frankenstein" and "Dracula"). Although the film appears a bit unsteady in the beginning, it improves. I personally thought the contrast could have been improved a bit as well. Audio sounds good but the volume is a bit low and probably could stand a bit cleaning up to get rid of some hiss and popping.
The follow up to Whale and his star Boris Karloff's "Frankenstein", this witty, cynical horror film is well adapted by writer Ben Levy. Thought lost for years (the original film has been out of circulation for at least 44 years when William Castle made his weak remake), director Curtis Harrington found a copy of the film from which this version is drawn.
The film was almost lost when Universal sold the rights to Columbia in 1963. Luckily director Curtis Harrington (who befriended director Whale late in life)while working at Universal asked to have the negative pulled and duplicated. Otherwise the film would be lost as the firs reel of this classic was in pretty bad shape.
Overall this is a pretty good reissue of a classic Whale film that has been out of circulation for too long. It's a classic right up there with Whale's "Waterloo Bridge", "The Bride of Frankenstein", The Invisible Man" and "Frankenstein" although closer in tone to "Bride" and "Invisible" than his straight horror films.
Movie Review: "BENIGHTED".....
Summary: 5 Stars
The dictionary defines the term "benighted" as "morally ignorant" and "overtaken by darkness or night". "Benighted" is the novel (by J.B.Priestly) on which this classic chiller is based. The deranged Femm family are the "benighted". Aged crone Rebecca Femm (Eva Moore) is a gruff self-righteous religious fanatic while her brother Horace (Ernest Thesiger) is the polar opposite---prim, cowardly and athiest. Also in the family is their ancient bedbound father---an androgynous 102 yr.old crumbling creature (played by actress Elspeth Dudgeon--billed as "John") who knows the family's decadent secrets. Kept locked away upstairs is the wild pyromaniac brother Saul, tended to by the facially disfigured butler Morgan (Boris Karloff) who is mute and a vicious drunk. They all reside in an old dark house, off the beaten path in the English mountains. One dark and stormy night, two sets of travelers are stranded by a landslide on the doorstep of this maniacal abode. And thus begins an unforgettable night of terror. No electricity, howling winds, pounding rain, lightning and a family of grotesques so weird only a writer could have made them up beset our travelers with primitive (and deadly) hospitality. Brilliantly directed by James Whale, the film is a rare treasure of the old Universal 30's horror films. Bizarre, grim and laced with black humor throughout, "House" features Melvyn Douglas, Charles Laughton, Lillian Bond, Raymond Massey and Gloria ("Titanic") Stuart as the rain-soaked travelers who find themselves at the mercy of the psychotic Femms. Karloff has never been more menacing as the hideous Morgan. The entire cast is priceless---especially Moore and Thesiger as the bickering brother and sister Femm. But wait until you meet Saul (Brember Wills) as the craziest of them all---he even bites! Good print on DVD with only minor flaws, "The Old Dark House" is a collector's item with nice extras including commentary by Gloria Stuart. You can't find a film like this just anywhere. There aren't any. James Whale was a misunderstood genius and this (and his other films) have thankfully survived to bear testament to a truly remarkable director.Movie Review: "The Old Dark House"
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie, "The Old Dark House," which I was so fortunate to find on "Amazon.com, comes closer to perfection than any other movie I've ever seen, either at theaters or on TV. It is impossible to overrate this absolute gem--a masterpiece destined to be an all-time classic, not only in its genre but overall and covering all categories. This film is difficult to classify. It is far more than a mere horror/suspense story; it also includes elements of mystery, psychology, humor and, not least, surprisingly touching, tender romance which is presented in an entirely original and unexpected manner.
Starring Boris Karloff in a vastly different role from the one with which he was for so many years stereotyped. In this casting, one discovers the depth, sensitivity, and consummate skill of this man--a truly GREAT actor! In addition, Charles Laughton, Melvyn Douglas, and several "unknowns" -- all gave superb performances. The characters live and breathe for us; they do not seem to be acting but are REAL, in that their lines appear to come straight from the heart.
At its beginning, the plot moves innocuously forward; it amuses and beguiles as it leads the hapless audience toward sudden twists and turns, each of which immerses us subtly and progressively into a dark world of horror and tragedy. We are unprepared for the shocks and blows that await us. The ending is bizarre and leaves us dazed.
This is a powerful film that provokes, enlightens, stirs us to the depth of our souls. There is in it so much food for thought. It is a movie that will compel us to return to it over and over again, each time experiencing new emotions and finding more and more to contemplate.
The film is flawless in its plot, casting of characters, and direction (by James Whale). It is a "generous" production, in that it leaves the audience feeling strangely fulfilled and edified, as would a traveler returning home from a long, eventful journey to a marvelous faraway land.
Movie Review: A creepy old house and a creepier family living in it
Summary: 5 Stars
Director James Whale did not break stride after his brilliant 1931 classic "Frankenstein" with an almost as brilliant "The Old Dark House".
Two groups of travelers traversing the Welsh countryside in a torrential downpour seek refuge in an eerie, desolate and threatening mansion.
Raymond Massey and a stunning Gloria Stuart, who made her movie comeback as the aged Rose in "Titanic", playing husband and wife The Wavertons are joined by Melvyn Douglas as the first group of wayfarers. Their relentless knocking at the front door is met by Boris Karloff playing the scarred, mute and mad butler Morgan. The hosts of the mansion the peculiar brother and sister team the Horace and Rebecca Femm greet the wet and weary travelers. The neurotic Horace played by Ernest Thesiger and the deaf Rebeccca played by Eva Moore commence revealing some chilling oddities surrounding their family. They are soon joined by a thickly accented Charles Laughton and his girlfriend Gladys played by Lilian Bond.
The group is subjected to a scary overnight stay as they wait out the passing of the storm. Exploration of the upper floors of the mansion reveals the presence of the bed ridden 102 year old father of the Femms played by white whiskered actress(!)Elspeth Dudgeon. She reveals that the mad oldest son Saul, a pyromaniac is locked in his room. She fears that the drunken Karloff will release him to wreak havoc on the house and its visitors.
Whale using his horror flick regulars Karloff and Thesiger successfully creates a romantic yet anxiety laced flick using an effectively constructed setting to evoke feelings of dread. The fine cast expertly captures the spirit with which Whale desired the film to be portrayed.