And what a gem it is! Only the second American film to be directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, who went on to direct the underrated 1957 classic, "Daughter Of Dr. Jekyll."
Based loosely on a story by Edgar Allan Poe, but more to do with Universal, this pits Karloff and Lugosi as compatriots feeling each was betrayed by the other in the war. Lugosi believes his wife and daughter are dead, and Karloff is responsible. The film delves into psychological horror and includes scenes depicting a series of dead women in glass cases, (Perhaps preserved by wax, echoing RKO's 1933 gem, "The Mystery Of The Wax Museum?") not to mention Satanic sacrifice, potential incest, and cult like behavior. Hey, how did all this get past the censors?
Also featured is the very good looking David Manners, who is not only luscious to look at, but whom I am convinced was gay. After a brief, closet case marriage, he lived with the writer William Mercer in the Pacific Palisades, and the two ran an art gallery. Uhm-hmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David was also in Universal's "Dracula," (1931) as Jonathan Harker, and in Boris Karloff's 1932 "The Mummy." Just wait till you get a good look at him, girls!!!!!!! Hubba! Hubba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, join, David and I, plus Baby Gojira and Kerwyn, for this screen delight!
I bet my feline friend, Nicholas, will be watching, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 comments:
Would you believe, I have Never read Poe!
Correction The Raven I have.
It’s been forever though
Victoria,
I have read some Poe, but I
must confess his stories don't
stay with me, the way Shirley
Jackson's do. He is an icon,
but I can't honestly say he is a
favorite!
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