IJW: The Black Cat (1934)
The Black Cat
Not Rated 1934 ‧ Horror/Mystery ‧ 1h 5m
Director
Edgar G. Ulmer
This sinister pre-Code 1934 horror gem boasts a twin top bill of screen legends Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Both actors are in rare form and firing on all cylinders. Their screen time together is absolutely the main draw, but there is plenty to like about this wickedly told tale. The rest of the cast does a fine job, with performances often spilling over into melodrama, which feels appropriate, considering the mood and themes being explored here.
The setup is the least interesting part, but necessary to deliver the viewer into the real meat of the story. Newlyweds, Peter and Joan Allison, have for some reason decided to honeymoon in Hungary. This odd fact is never fully explained but used as fodder for black humor several times. One of my biggest surprises in watching this film was the abundant amount of obsidian mirth woven through the plot. This is needed, due to the positively macabre details which drive the plot.
Peter and Joan are traveling through Hungary by rail, and before they even have a chance to grab a bite to eat, they are informed that their train compartment has been double booked. An attendant barges in to drop this bomb, then to ask if they wouldn't mind sharing their love nest with... you guessed it, Bela Lugosi himself. His character is Dr. Vitus Werdegast, a Hungarian psychiatrist, and it's as awesome as it sounds. Old Bela really hams it up, and he is an absolute delight to watch perform.
During their brief time together in the compartment, we get a little of Dr. Werdegast's tragic backstory. He survived World War I but has been mysteriously estranged from his wife after spending 15 years in a brutal Siberian prison camp. You just know that nugget is going to come back around at some point, and boy does it.
It is at this point that the trio must switch to a small bus for the next leg of their journey. This transition is glossed over on screen, but is necessary to place the group (now including Werdegast's servant Thamal) in jeopardy. They travel in a torrential rainstorm as the driver regales them with grisly details of the war and nearby, ruined Fort Marmorus, which is infamous among the populace for being a site of epic betrayal and death. It's all very effective foreshadowing, as the driver suddenly veers off the road, crashing the bus. This deadly accident is where the film finds its wings, beginning an ascent into a fever dream of a story. Elements that are either hinted at strongly or portrayed outright include necrophilia, ailurophobia (fear of cats), drugs, a deadly game of chess, torture, flaying, and a black mass with a human sacrifice.
With a run time of just over one hour, it's a brisk and bracing jaunt through a thoroughly eerie and ghoulish storyline. Without giving anything away, you can be sure that Karloff's character Hjalmar Poelzig factors in directly with Dr. Werdegast's tragic backstory. The two actors share plenty of screen time and make the absolute most of it. It's a full-on creep-off, and nobody loses. These two are masters of their craft, both of whom possess a presence that is impossible to look away from when they are center stage and under the spotlight.
As wonderful as these legends are in their respective roles, the supporting cast keeps up with them and adds their own special touches to the story. Egon Brecher as the Majordomo is fantastic. Likewise, Harry Cording really makes the most of his role as Thamal. Neither man is given much dialogue, but both compensate nicely with their physical presences. Also worthy of mention are Henry Armetta as The Sergeant and Albert Conti as The Lieutenant. They arrive near the midpoint of the narrative, investigating the bus crash, and both provide a much-needed comic interlude to the pitch-black story they wander into unawares.
If you enjoy Universal Horror, or any horror from this era, you will almost surely fall in love with this evil little film. The notorious Hays Code sunk its fangs into the industry on July 1st, 1934, and The Black Cat was released on May 3rd of that same year. It manages to make the most of this last gasp of cinematic freedom to plunge both hands eagerly into forbidden topics with glee. If you are interested in watching it, luckily, it can be found online to stream for free via sites like the Internet Archive. I highly recommend it for any fans of horror or pre-code cinema. It's a blast to watch.
8.5/10
MAIN CAST
Boris Karloff
Hjalmar Poelzig(as Karloff)
Bela Lugosi
Dr. Vitus Werdegast
David Manners
Peter Alison
Julie Bishop
Joan Alison(as Jacqueline Wells)
Egon Brecher
The Majordomo
Harry Cording
Thamal
Lucille Lund
Karen
Henry Armetta
The Sergeant
Albert Conti
The Lieutenant