The Black Room *** (1935, Boris Karloff, Marian Marsh, Robert Allen, Thurston Hall, Katherine DeMille, John Buckler, Torben Meyer, Henry Kolker, Colin Tapley, Edward Van Sloan, Egon Brecher) – Classic Movie Review 4556

Boris Karloff grabs his chance to play a pair of cursed Jekyll-and-Hyde-style brothers in director Roy William Neill’s sleek and eerie 1935 Gothic chiller showcasing two of Boris’s most effective turns. Karloff really relishes playing both the criminally insane nobleman called Baron Gregor de Berghmann and his kindly younger identical twin Anton.

It is 1834 and Gregor is a Tyrolean estate’s depraved ruler, murdering the wives of the peasants. Anton, who has no use of his right arm, returns to the family castle for a visit, but refuses to believe the rumours about Gregor. Gregor’s attempts to woo Thea (Marian Marsh), daughter of family adviser Colonel Hassel (Thurston Hall), are failing becuase of her love for young Lieutenant Albert Lussan (Robert Allen).

Neill keeps the direction steady handed and low-key, just right in the show-stopping circumstances. The striking black and white cinematography is by Allen G Siegler.

Arthur Strawn and Henry Myers write the screenplay based on Strawn’s story. The Black Room is where Gregor hides the bodies of his victims.

Also in the cast are Katherine DeMille, John Buckler, Torben Meyer, Henry Kolker, Colin Tapley, Edward Van Sloan, Egon Brecher, Helena Grant, Marion Lessing, Robert Middlemass, John Bleifer, George MacQuarrie, John M Sullivan, John Singer, Frederick Vogeding and Paul Weigel.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4556

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