The Old Dark House

“Beware the night!”

6.7

1932

1h 10m

DramaHorrorThriller

Director: James Whale

Overview

In a remote region of Wales, five travelers beset by a relentless storm find shelter in an old mansion.

Trailer

Masters of Cinema Official Trailer Official

Cast

Morgan

Boris Karloff

Morgan

Penderel

Melvyn Douglas

Penderel

Sir William Porterhouse

Charles Laughton

Sir William Porterhouse

Gladys

Lilian Bond

Gladys

Horace Femm

Ernest Thesiger

Horace Femm

Rebecca Femm

Eva Moore

Rebecca Femm

Philip Waverton

Raymond Massey

Philip Waverton

Margaret Waverton

Gloria Stuart

Margaret Waverton

Sir Roderick Femm

Elspeth Dudgeon

Sir Roderick Femm

Saul Femm

Brember Wills

Saul Femm

Reviews

John Chard

Beware The Night. As a violent storm rages, five travellers in a remote part of Wales take refuge at a creepy looking mansion that's home to the "odd" Femm family... Weird, exciting and positively funny haunted house film with a top cast that's directed by one of Horror's greatest directors, James Whale. Based loosely around J.B. Priestley's novel "Benighted", the piece is further boosted by excellent camera work from Arthur Edeson and a screenplay that positively zips with memorable moments. Upon release in America the film was poorly received, yet unsurprisingly given it's British dryness, it was well liked in Britain. Even spawning an imitation in the form of The Ghoul, with both Boris Karloff and the irrepressible Ernest Thesiger again starring. The Old Dark House got a reissue in the late 30s after the Horror genre had been reinvigorated by the likes of King Kong, but sadly it fell off the radar once the rights had reverted to Priestley. The film then appeared to be lost for many many years until Curtis Harrington (director of such TV Horror fare like Killer Bees) found a print in the archives in 1968, and thankfully got the funding to have the film restored and preserved. Thus now, and as far from perfect as the print is, the piece can be enjoyed by anyone with a bent for such a unique blend of Horror & Comedy. You have to be prepared for its kooky nature to truly enjoy the experience, but all being well The Old Dark House will continue to garner new fans with each passing year. The supreme director and marvellous cast deserve that at least. 8/10

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CinemaSerf

James Whale really did put together an excellent cast for this comic horror film. On a foul night; five stranded travellers seek shelter in a creepy old Welsh manor house - occupied by the even creepier "Femm" family and their almost anthropoid servant "Morgan" (Boris Karloff). As the evening progresses, lots of drink is taken and we meet the servant's pyromaniac brother and mayhem ensues. There are super performances from Melvyn Douglas, Ernest Thesiger and Raymond Massey with Eva Moore as the horrid "Rebecca" and a fantastically over-the-top Charles Laughton as "Sir William Porterhouse". The sets are a bit on the basic side and the lighting could have done with some more wattage, but it is all eerily directed with a plenty of wit and charm - well worth a watch.

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