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It's so great to be able to find old movies that can hold their own over the years. Made before movies relied on 'computer generated' special effects, the quality of story and drama stand the test of time.
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The 30's
The finest decade in cinema for
examining the roots of all evil
exploring the notions of fear
depicting the elements in life
that might make you
hesitate
get nervous
or hold your breath
The Old, Dark House offers all of these things and more. Director Whale keeps one finger on the panic button and one on the laugh meter. When it comes to horror/comedy, he masterfully goes both ways.
This is a bizarre tale of a trio (or threesome, if you prefer) that seek shelter in a secluded mansion during a horrendous storm. This safe haven is old. Plus dark. And as soon as they step inside, they realize something evil is afoot.
Or is it just something eccentric? This might be the nuthouse instead of the House of horrors. The mute butler (Karloff) has a hideous scar and consequential fits of rage after a stiff drink (not to mention something stiff for stranded hot chicks). There's the loony religious lady, the atheist, the 102-yr-old lady with the beard, the crazy pyro, and more.
It all adds up to a creepy night of fun, mystery, and melodrama. Great performances, camera work, atmosphere--just a tremendous script and directing. Classic horror you don't wanna miss...
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The Old Dark House for me is a tough review to write; while I enjoyed the movie I can't fully explain what it is I loved about this movie. While often lumped into the horror genre, The Old Dark House is actually an offbeat comedy with some touches of horror, but even the suspense scenes are often played with a bit of dark humor.
Several people are forced to take shelter in an old house during a severe rain storm with a creepy family and mute butler (played by Boris Karloff). All the elements for a horror classic are here, but instead it's more laughs than anything else. The Old Dark House is quite a strange little movie and even after all these years it still remains a very strange movie.
The screenplay written by Benn W. Levy was highly enjoyable and well written. While not the greatest script it serves its purpose and works quite well. The characters are a bit annoying and even a bit obnoxious, but yet they work well overall and are mostly likeable.
The Old Dark House was directed by James Whale who is probably best known for the classics Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. James Whale is one of the finest directors of his era and here he delivers one odd, but yet fun movie. The pacing never lags and there's always something happening to keep the viewer interested.
Ernest Thesiger as Horace and Eva Moore as his sister Rebecca are super creepy and weird and both deliver top notch performances. Any scene they have is golden and works well in a weird, creepy, but yet funny way. Even though Boris Karloff has top billing as the mute butler Morgan, truth is he isn't really given that much to do. Karloff was one of those rare actors who without any lines can deliver a performance of a lifetime. Karloff is in the movie early lurking around and being creepy, but he goes MIA until towards the end of the movie.
But when he returns that's where the horror and suspense moments kick in, but don't go in expecting a Karloff movie or you'll be slightly disappointed since this really isn't a Karloff movie. I can't really quite explain what it is about The Old Dark House I liked. It's not one of the best movies from it's time, but yet there is just something so wonderful here that it worked well for me.
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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).
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The Old Dark House......has all the elements you'd expect in a film like this..suspicious characters,romance,humor and great acting!
I would recommend this movie to anyone who like 'old fashioned' scares!
Buy it!
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