Customer Reviews

Black Cat [VHS]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This bizarre, ingeniously fascinating little film offers the first and by far the most effective pairing of Karloff and Lugosi. Young newlyweds en route to Budapest for their honeymoon. They meet Lugosi on a train in Austria. When the trio transfer for a bus ride, the coach crashes and the young couple are invited to spend the night in Karloff's modernistic art-deco mansion...Though the plotting at times and the motivations of the characters get somewhat confused, the film has an overwhelming sense of uneasiness, eroticism, and horror to it which infuses most every shot. The magnificent sets, brilliantly fluid camera work and stunning performances by both Karloff and Lugosi give the film an almost timeless quality. Karloff's character was reportedly based on the infamously hedonistic Aleister Crowley. The musical score is also extremely effective: the score is derived from classical pieces written by Tschaikovsky, List and Schumann which give the film an added sense of mystery and suspence. Director Ulmer had worked with the classic German expressionist filmmakers in the 1920's and the influence is very evident: it's a classic horror masterpiece well worth seeing.

Bella Lugosi and Boris Karloff team up into the psychological thriller "The Black Cat." Bela lugos plays a mysterious character named Dr. Vitus Verdegast, who has an interesting past. David Manners and Julie Bishop play a young couple on their way to a nice vacation. When these three passengers on a bus get into a accident. The three are led to the friend of Dr. Verdegast, Hjalmar Poelzig who is played by Boris Karloff. A bitter hatred is discovered between these to once friends. Hjalmar is discovered to be a priest in a satanic cult who has evil plans for his new guests. The atmosphere of the movie is a mix of classic horror and Art Deco. It's held to this atmosphere with terrific lighting and great sets. The mansion was filled with sharp edges and rounded circular objects. Also a spiral-staircase to the dungeon like rooms below was installed to give it homage to classic horror. Costumes were also very well done giving Mr. Poelzig a very intriguing look of mystery. This dialog was most important and well done to incite fear and suspense in to the film. Lugosi does a great job showing the unusual psyche of his characters fear of cats and his scheming mind. Karloff's character was well portrayed as an evil satanic priest who kills without a thought of even ones he loves. Overall the movie is a great psychological thriller that is very intriguing and pokes at your thoughts.

A story that finds a recently-released WW I prisoner of war, Dr. Vitus Werdegast, travelling by train to the eerie mountain-top home of his former commanding officer, Hjalmar Poelzig, who betrayed Werdegast and his comrades to the enemy army, subsequently marrying Werdegast's wife (whom he told died during the war) and, after killing her and preserving her body, marries Werdegast's daughter as well. Sworn on revenge, Werdegast brings fellow travellers Mr. and Mrs. Alison to Poelzig's home, a Caligariesque fortress which Poelzig designed, as he happens to be an architect when he's not too busy running his Satanic Cult from the depths of his house. The house, it seems, was built upon the ruins of the WW I fort Poelzig had commanded during the last years of the war, the very spot where tens of thousands of Poelzig's own men were murdered or taken prisoner of war thanks to his betrayal of them...

It is against this background that the two men, Poelzig and Werdegast, play out a living chess game against one another, using the young Mr. & Mrs. Alison as the stakes for a macabre ritual played out between the betrayer and the betrayed.

One of the very best of the Universal horror films,even though it can properly be regarded as *not* being what one would think of as a "horror film," this one is a must for any deep-thinking person who desires to understand the potential for extreme darkness the human soul can be capable of.

Honeymooners Peter and Joan Alison (David Manners, Jacqueline Wells) get involved in a deadly contest between architect, devil worshiper, and talented organist Hjalmar Poelzig (Boris Karloff) and psychiatrist, former POW, and talented knife thrower--or was that just luck?--Dr. Vitus Werdegast (Bela Lugosi).

While Karloff and Lugosi are superb in playing their roles, it's the main setting that is the highlight of the film: Poelzig's home. Built on the site of a World War I battleground, this fort-turned-domicile is an austere, high-tech monument to Bauhaus architecture and interior design.

Adding culture to the horror is a classical music sound track that includes Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major; Schumann's Quintet in E Flat Major; Liszt's Sonata in B Minor; Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet; Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B Minor Unfinished; Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor; and Bach's Adagio from Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C Major, BWV 564.

The Black Cat does have its flaws. There are set problems: Poelzig's servant can't latch the front door. Not to be outdone, Werdegast's servant falls against a flimsy concrete wall. There are plot problems: How did Werdegast manage to become "one of Hungary's greatest psychiatrists" if he tells us "for 15 years I've rotted in the darkness" as a prisoner of war? How did "one of Austria's greatest architects" manage to include a "red switch" in the construction of his home? How did the bus driver manage to become one of the cultists?--or am I seeing things? Whatever the film lacks in credibility it more than compensates for with a remarkable synthesis of aesthetics and depravity, presented entirely in glorious black and white.

The eeriest scene is that of high priest Poelzig's convening with his fellow satanists and performing the rites of Lucifer in Latin. If devil worship doesn't appeal to you, then perhaps you'll enjoy the necrophilia, borderline incest, torture, and murder--I know I did.

This is one of the very few films I've seen as a child that has haunted and fascinated me throughout my life. The other film being "Phantasm." Lugosi is wonderful as the tragic "good doctor." The sets are breathtaking, especially considering this film dates from 1934! The clever, psychologically twisted dialogue, and that infamous chess match between Karloff and Lugosi are unforgettable!

The most amazing aspect of this movie for me was the music. I had no idea just how much impact this film had on me until I was an adult... Classical pieces I'd heard in this movie would crop up giving me a tremendous sense of wonder and chills without my making the connection to this film! Beethoven's 7th Symphony--the sadly stirring second movement. Schumann's haunting Piano & Strings Quintet in E-Flat Major. But most especially, the glorious organ music of Bach. Karloff's playing the magnificent Toccata in D Minor. And the stately, haunting Adagio in C Major played throughout the Black Mass. Needless to say, I was inspired to learn to play the pipe organ in real life. I even lived for a time in Vienna, Austria to study classical music--imagine my surprise when I realized that this film took place in Austria! My graduation recital at Stanford University included Toccata in D Minor and that beautiful Adagio in C Major! I was smiling the entire time! Lugosi and Karloff would have been proud!

As you can see, this film has been amazingly inspirational in a subliminal way. Not that I'm out attending Satanic ceremonies or skinning people alive. But a good chess match stirs my blood, as does Bach's music. I'm not so sure these would have quite the same effect if I hadn't seen this film as an impressionable kid! Viewing this as an adult, now, I see what a masterpiece it is! I even--quite proudly--attended a recent theatrical screening of "The Black Cat" in an old Glendale theatre, and the hosts of that evening were the children of Lugosi (Bela Jr.), Karloff (Sara), and Ulmer. Great fun!

Warning, after seeing this film, prepare to find yourself chewing over favorite lines. "... Even the phone is dead..."

I'm shivering even now as I think about it!

Wonderful film, wonderful!

I first saw this as an 8 year old boy on the old channel Ktul Plenty Scary Movie and probably did not understand or appreciate it then.In the early 1980s when Beta was still all-the-rage I bought a copy of the Black Cat that included The Raven(1935-Also Highly Recomended) as a double feature.The Black Cat is a brilliant achievement, especially for its time. The sets, like The Shining, are almost the real menace here.It has a futuristic look that resembles the old German Bauhaus which was banned by the Nazis.The camerawork looks like an early attempt at steadicam for which Stanley Kubrick would later become so noted for. There is effective use of Bach's Fugue that gives a sense of terror to the Rites Of Lucifer scene(Watch for John Carradine playing the organ!) Out of all the excellent teamings of Lugosi and Karloff throughout this period, this and The Raven stand out as the best of the genre.David Manners character is a bit annoying at times, but why carp(he was annoying as the romantic lead in Dracula and The Mummy as well!).Scene where Lugosi skins Karloff alive on embalming rack is still effective even though you don't actually see the skinning(it is shot in shadows with Karloff giving off-camera yells and screams).

A newly-wed couple are on their way to a honeymoon when they meet a mysterious man on a train {Lugosi portrays "Vitus Werdegast"} who regails them with local tales of intrigue and superstition, weaving them in his spell all the while - who, unbeknownst to the honeymooners, is himself on his way to confront his arch-nemesis, whom once upon a time betrayed him, thus resulting in his unjust imprisonment. Eventually, they find themselves accompanying him to a mansion in the Austrian hillsides where they meet with the elegant, though 'strange' "Hjalmar Poelzig" {Karloff} who turns out to be the High Priest of a Satanic group, who were just awaiting a suitable 'sacrifice' for the night's rites - and they find her in the betrothed writer's wife.

The mansion itself is situated above a military fortress, and the Ritual Chamber is designed to gothic-modernist standards with sharp angles and shard-like projections which makes for quite an impressive spectacle. Nefarious situations begin manifesting when Lugosi is horrified by a sleek black cat who slinks into the room, at which he tosses a knife {the cat may have been a demon in feline form}. Ironically, Lugosi plays a rather "VanHelsing"-like character who must battle the sinister minister Poelzig {said to have been partly modeled after Aleister Crowley, and that of German Schauerfilm architect Hans Poelzig} for the life of the girl; Now, the Lugosi character would have probably included these two as part of his revenge, considering they were basically pauns in the overall scheme, though as demonstrated, he caresses her hair as she slept in rememberance of his deceased wife, which is why he rescinded. Eventually, his own dark side is displayed when he initiates a sadistic plan to skin his opponent while tied, crucifix-style. He finally decides to end the entire decades-long battle by exploding the entire house with dynamite which had been previously arranged about the grounds. The helpless honeymooners eventually escape and embark upon a train to get as far away from there as possible, with the ending scene of the writer and his little wife observing a review of one of his stories based upon the experience, to which it is claimed that it is far too fictional...

The Black Cat featured the first-ever production in which horror giants Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff act together, and their rapport is quite engaging - the stage presence is tangible even through the screen. It was filmed in one of Frank Lloyd Wright's houses, which according to director Edgar G. Ulmer, contained an asylum's embience. This film is more psychological in nature, with an elegant deportment which is most befitting;

According to Dr. LaVey:

"The Black Cat and The Seventh Victim are certainly two pre-Church of Satan movies I would consider worthwhile examples of the way true Satanists behave." - The Secret Life of A Satanist; Blanche Barton.

I fully concur - for they are indeed exemplary in etiquette and aesthetics.

Rating: 5/5.

{Credits: Special thanks to Magister Rose and Reverend Svengali for their contributions to this review].

Sources:

* See "Early Deviltry" {Theory & Practice section: Altar Egos} and "Church of Satan Video List" {Sources} at the Official Church of Satan Site: http://www.churchofsatan.com
* Also mentioned in the "Satanic Cinema" chapter in Magistra Blanche Barton's book: "The Church of Satan".

Widely banned due to overtones of satanism and sadism, this frequently over-looked film is a classic of understated horror guaranteed to haunt your thoughts for quite some time after. Pay particular attention to the icy Bauhaus scenery, which gives the film a mortuary-cold visual appeal.

I originally saw this film years ago on late night television, I think during the 1970s. Even at this late date, some of the movie remained in my memory, so when the video I bought through Amazon came, I thought I had something remarkable in hand. It's remarkable, all right. Some hack with a low IQ cut the entire scene in which Dr. Werdegast flays Poelzig alive! You get to miss the entire mad rant of revenge as only a Bela Lugosi could have delivered it, all suggested by the writhings of shadows on a wall -- this is great art, not a grade-z slash flick! If this was good enough to show on television going on 30 years ago, why is it too bad to include in the video? So beware, if you buy this video, you will emphatically not be getting your money's worth.

The Black Cat is based off the Edgar Allen Poe story, but actually the Poe story really doesn't relate to the movie it seems it was just used for a marketing ploy. There is a black cat, but it serves no real purpose to the story. So if you're looking for a movie based on the Poe story you might feel letdown.

The plot is rather simple Bela Lugosi plays Dr. Vitus Werdegast who after 15-years returns to seek revenge on Herr Poelzig played by Boris Karloff. Meanwhile a married couple is also spending the night at Poelzig's place, but he has something sinister in store for them. I don't wanna give away any key plot points so I'll leave it that.

The Black Cat is a bit slow in some areas the first half of the movie develops the characters, but the scenes come across more as more filler scenes than anything. But when the action kicks in during the 2nd half it does work due to the build up. So despite it feeling like filler scenes it does also add when everything starts to happen. As much as I did enjoy The Black Cat there were some slight problems with the first half when it can be a little boring. But the movie is only 66-minutes so therefore it gets to the good stuff rather quickly.

The screenplay written by Edgar G. Ulmer & Peter Ruric is well done overall. Despite some flaws in the first half it wasn't poorly written by any means. Like I stated earlier I just feel some of the scenes seemed like fillers at times. But it was still a solid screenplay overall.

Edgar G. Ulmer also directs and is able to create an eerie feel with a good sense of dread and looming danger. Most of his scenes work well with a solid visual touch. The pacing is pretty good though there are some slow moments where the pacing might lack, but the 2nd half is where he gets it right and does a solid job at creating tension. The scenes with Karloff and Lugosi have some truly great tension.

What makes this movie so Iconic is it marked the first time Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi worked together. Apparently, they did a silent picture back in 1920 called The Last of the Mohicans, but both were un-credited. But The Black Cat is the first movie they starred in together. Both Lugosi and Karloff are the reason The Black Cat works well; any flaws that can be found the two more than make up for.

The interesting thing about the movie is that Bela Lugosi actually plays a good guy rather than a villain. Lugosi was excellent and in my opinion this is one of his finest performances. Though Lugosi still comes across as a bit creepy at times; the real star here though is Boris Karloff. Karloff was such a brilliant actor. He can play a good guy, he's great at playing sympathetic characters like the Frankenstein Monster, but when it comes down to playing a villain, Karloff is quite chilling.

The Black Cat also has one of my very favorite quotes in a movie, when talking to Lugosi's character Karloff says, "The phone is dead. Did you hear that, Vitus? Even the phone is dead." Just the way Karloff says that is really quite chilling.

Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff really elevate this movie so much. Without them The Black Cat would have been a good movie, but these 2 make it great and the movie only really suffers when the focus isn't on them, which thankfully for the most part it is. David Manners plays Peter Alison and does give a solid performance though his character wasn't very interesting and Julie Bishop using the name Jacqueline Wells as Joan Alison has the typical female role. Manners and Wells do a good job, but weren't all that interesting.

The final act is excellent and even a little creepy. I love the scene when Karloff is tied up and Lugosi gets a knife and slices him up. We don't actually see this happening remember this is the 1930s. We get a great shot of their shadows as Lugosi's character does his thing. And a couple of minutes later off camera we just hear Karloff scream. Sometimes what you don't see works amazingly and here Edgar G. Ulmer shows us what we don't see sometimes is the better way to go.

The fact the movie stars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi you know it's gonna be good. Like I said these 2 really elevate the movie. Both are such wonderful actors and work so well together it's almost impossible for the movie to be bad. The Black Cat rates as one of my favorite Boris Karloff roles. He has many to choose from, but here he's quite chilling. He's rather evil here; he's not sympathetic at all. He's quite cold and again evil. As much as I liked Lugosi in this movie, Karloff is the main reason I enjoyed this movie. Boris Karloff really steals the show and proves why he was the best horror actor of his generation. He's cold and cruel and makes for one hell of a chilling villain.

This movie can be found on DVD as part of the Bela Lugosi Collection.