James Whale's 1932 masterpiece is one of the most enjoyable films of its
kind ever made; even when it's terrible it's still glorious. "The Old
Dark House" set the bar for all spooky old house movies, (even if it
wasn't the first), and it's never been surpassed, (there was a dreadful
remake in 1963 which should be avoided). It was based on J. B.
Priestley's novel "Benighted" and takes place over the course of one
stormy night when a group of travellers, (Raymond Massey, Gloria
Stuart, Melvyn Douglas Charles Laughton and Lilian Bond), are stranded
in the crumbling old house of the title with its very weird inhabitants,
the Femms, (Ernest Thesiger, Eva Moore, Brember Wills and their 102
year old father played by Elspeth Dudgeon, but credited as John Dudgeon,
as well as their mute brute of a butler played by Boris Karloff, sans
the Boris in the credits). The Femms are all mad as hatters and they are
superbly played; once seen, and heard, they are unlikely to be
forgotten. On the other hand, both Massey and Douglas are very hammy
indeed, though Laughton shows all the promise of a great actor in an
early role. It's also superbly designed and photographed and although
clocking in at only 72 minutes it was obviously a prestige production
following hot on the heels of "Frankenstein". This old, dark house may
creak in places but it has also stood the test of time and, newly
restored, looks as good today as when it was first released.
James Whale's 1932 masterpiece is one of the most enjoyable films of its
kind ever made; even when it's terrible it's still glorious. "The Old
Dark House" set the bar for all spooky old house movies, (even if it
wasn't the first), and it's never been surpassed, (there was a dreadful
remake in 1963 which should be avoided). It was based on J. B.
Priestley's novel "Benighted" and takes place over the course of one
stormy night when a group of travellers, (Raymond Massey, Gloria
Stuart, Melvyn Douglas Charles Laughton and Lilian Bond), are stranded
in the crumbling old house of the title with its very weird inhabitants,
the Femms, (Ernest Thesiger, Eva Moore, Brember Wills and their 102
year old father played by Elspeth Dudgeon, but credited as John Dudgeon,
as well as their mute brute of a butler played by Boris Karloff, sans
the Boris in the credits). The Femms are all mad as hatters and they are
superbly played; once seen, and heard, they are unlikely to be
forgotten. On the other hand, both Massey and Douglas are very hammy
indeed, though Laughton shows all the promise of a great actor in an
early role. It's also superbly designed and photographed and although
clocking in at only 72 minutes it was obviously a prestige production
following hot on the heels of "Frankenstein". This old, dark house may
creak in places but it has also stood the test of time and, newly
restored, looks as good today as when it was first released.
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