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Following the success of The Black Cat Karloff and Lugosi teamed up again for another classic slice of horror. Lugosi gives one of his finest performances as the brilliant but deranged surgeon who becomes obssessed with a beautiful dancer after saving her life. He must have her but first must deal with her fiance and father and plans to take care of them in his chamber of Edgar Allen Poe-inspired torture devices. To do the dirty work he enlists the aid of a wanted criminal (Karloff) whom he disfigures with the promise of restoring his features when the job is done.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film is something of a triumph for Bela Lugosi, who steals the plaudits for his maniacal depiction of love crazed Poe obsessed surgeon Dr Vollin. After saving the life of a 'beautiful' young lady, Jean Thatcher, following a road accident, he falls in love only to be spurned by her and reprimanded by her father ( the canny Judge Thatcher. Did the scriptwriter like Mark Twain or something?). He decides to exact revenge using Poe derived torture devices with the help of escaped convict Edmond Bateman(Karloff), who comes to him seeking face altering surgery but is deliberately disfigured in a ploy to enlist his assistance.
Ignoring some absurdities, for example, Jean Thatcher's frankly crap ballet dancing show lauded as brilliant, or the inept notion that the Lenore of Poe's 'Raven' was real and that Poe went mad through unrequited love, the film is something of a classic. Karloff's Bateman is a sympathetic character, and his restrained performance contrasts nicely with Lugosi's (quite suitably) neurotic, mad Dr Vollin. The other performances are quite pedestrian, but there are some classic horror scenes that remain etched in my memory. The scene where Lugosi lets Karloff see his disfigurement for the first time in a room full of mirrors,and laughs maniacally from above, is definitely one of the best scenes in horror history. And there are others.The film has similarities with its predecessor, the Black Cat, where the goodie/ baddie roles are reversed between Karloff and Lugosi, but it's a classic in its own right. Check it out- Karloff got top billing but Lugosi definitely steals the show in what is arguably his strongest career performance after Dracula.
Ignoring some absurdities, for example, Jean Thatcher's frankly crap ballet dancing show lauded as brilliant, or the inept notion that the Lenore of Poe's 'Raven' was real and that Poe went mad through unrequited love, the film is something of a classic. Karloff's Bateman is a sympathetic character, and his restrained performance contrasts nicely with Lugosi's (quite suitably) neurotic, mad Dr Vollin. The other performances are quite pedestrian, but there are some classic horror scenes that remain etched in my memory. The scene where Lugosi lets Karloff see his disfigurement for the first time in a room full of mirrors,and laughs maniacally from above, is definitely one of the best scenes in horror history. And there are others.The film has similarities with its predecessor, the Black Cat, where the goodie/ baddie roles are reversed between Karloff and Lugosi, but it's a classic in its own right. Check it out- Karloff got top billing but Lugosi definitely steals the show in what is arguably his strongest career performance after Dracula.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Karloff and Lugosi were paired several times, but this particular Universal classic has always been my favourite of them all. Lugosi really shines as the mad doctor who loves to torture, and Karloff is pitiful as the unfortunate criminal Bateman. There are too many delightful scenes to mention, but if you like old-time horror and haven't seen this one yet; get it, you'll love it !.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Very atmospheric chiller this. Good transfer in sound and vision to DVD with two of the genres greatest stars. Karloff and Lugosi (together) in an excellent story. No other company did these sort of films better than Universal so this is a worthy addition to other films in the collection.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Classic vintage horror
Eminent surgeon Dr Richard Vollin (Bela Lugosi) saves the life of a beautiful young dancer, after which the unhinged doctor remains unsatisfied by the young lady's words of... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Alan James
Madness begets madness.
Madness begets madness.
Horror legends Karloff and Lugosi return after the success of The Black Cat the previous year in this deliciously warped slice of horror. Read more
Horror legends Karloff and Lugosi return after the success of The Black Cat the previous year in this deliciously warped slice of horror. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Spike Owen
A real hair-raiser...
There are at least 4 elements in The Raven that contribute to its being one of the most frightening movies ever made, terrifying not so much for their immediate impact as for their... Read more
Published 13 months ago by inframan
BELA LUGOSI LIVES
Bela Lugoisi is terribly handosme and sexy
His power and magnificence lies on his hypnotic power and his demi-hidden sexuality, wich often appears bright and strong. Read more
His power and magnificence lies on his hypnotic power and his demi-hidden sexuality, wich often appears bright and strong. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Ardito Giacomo
The Raven 1935 DVD
Ordered this for my son. He was very pleased with the DVD and the speed with wich it was sent.
Published 23 months ago by R. Findlay
Bela Lugosi can really act!!!
Good 30's thriller.
Here Bela Lugosi (Dracula 1931) does a fine job of the 'maniacal' surgeon asked to save a judge's daughter. Read more
Here Bela Lugosi (Dracula 1931) does a fine job of the 'maniacal' surgeon asked to save a judge's daughter. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2009 by Jon Shipton
superb
1 of Karloffs and Luguosis greatst films not as good as the Price Karloff and Lorre 1963 version but still worth seeing
Published on 12 Mar 2001
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