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The Black Cat

  • 19341934
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 5m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Julie Bishop, and Harry Cording in The Black Cat (1934)
American honeymooners in Hungary become trapped in the home of a Satan-worshiping priest when the bride is taken there for medical help following a road accident.
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Adventure
  • Crime
  • Horror

American honeymooners in Hungary become trapped in the home of a Satan-worshipping priest when the bride is taken there for medical help following a road accident.American honeymooners in Hungary become trapped in the home of a Satan-worshipping priest when the bride is taken there for medical help following a road accident.American honeymooners in Hungary become trapped in the home of a Satan-worshipping priest when the bride is taken there for medical help following a road accident.

IMDb RATING
6.9/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Edgar G. Ulmer
  • Writers
    • Edgar Allan Poe(suggested by a story by)
    • Peter Ruric(screenplay)
    • Edgar G. Ulmer(story)
  • Stars
    • Boris Karloff
    • Bela Lugosi
    • David Manners
Top credits
  • Director
    • Edgar G. Ulmer
  • Writers
    • Edgar Allan Poe(suggested by a story by)
    • Peter Ruric(screenplay)
    • Edgar G. Ulmer(story)
  • Stars
    • Boris Karloff
    • Bela Lugosi
    • David Manners
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 170User reviews
    • 104Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:44
    Official Trailer

    Photos178

    Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Lucille Lund in The Black Cat (1934)
    Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in The Black Cat (1934)
    The Black Cat (1934)
    Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Julie Bishop, and David Manners in The Black Cat (1934)
    Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Julie Bishop, and David Manners in The Black Cat (1934)
    The Black Cat (1934)
    Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in The Black Cat (1934)
    Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Julie Bishop, and David Manners in The Black Cat (1934)
    Boris Karloff in The Black Cat (1934)
    Boris Karloff and Lucille Lund in The Black Cat (1934)
    The Black Cat (1934)
    Boris Karloff in The Black Cat (1934)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Boris Karloff
    Boris Karloff
    • Hjalmar Poelzigas Hjalmar Poelzig
    Bela Lugosi
    Bela Lugosi
    • Dr. Vitus Werdegastas Dr. Vitus Werdegast
    David Manners
    David Manners
    • Peter Alisonas Peter Alison
    Julie Bishop
    Julie Bishop
    • Joan Alisonas Joan Alison
    Egon Brecher
    • The Majordomoas The Majordomo
    Harry Cording
    Harry Cording
    • Thamalas Thamal
    Lucille Lund
    Lucille Lund
    • Karenas Karen
    Henry Armetta
    Henry Armetta
    • The Sergeantas The Sergeant
    Albert Conti
    Albert Conti
    • The Lieutenantas The Lieutenant
    Virginia Ainsworth
    • Cultistas Cultist
    • (uncredited)
    Luis Alberni
    Luis Alberni
    • Train Stewardas Train Steward
    • (uncredited)
    King Baggot
    King Baggot
    • Cultistas Cultist
    • (uncredited)
    Herman Bing
    Herman Bing
    • Car Stewardas Car Steward
    • (uncredited)
    Symona Boniface
    Symona Boniface
    • Cultistas Cultist
    • (uncredited)
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Cult Organistas Cult Organist
    • (uncredited)
    André Cheron
    • Train Conductoras Train Conductor
    • (uncredited)
    George Davis
    George Davis
    • Bus driveras Bus driver
    • (uncredited)
    Andy Devine
    Andy Devine
    • Bit Partas Bit Part
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Edgar G. Ulmer
    • Writers
      • Edgar Allan Poe(suggested by a story by) (credit only)
      • Peter Ruric(screenplay) (story)
      • Edgar G. Ulmer(story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Honeymooning in Hungary, Joan and Peter Allison share their train compartment with Dr. Vitus Verdegast, a courtly but tragic man who is returning to the remains of the town he defended before becoming a prisoner of war for fifteen years. When their hotel-bound bus crashes in a mountain storm and Joan is injured, the travellers seek refuge in the home, built fortress-like upon the site of a bloody battlefield, of famed architect Hjalmar Poelzig. There, cat-phobic Verdegast learns his wife's fate, grieves for his lost daughter, and must play a game of chess for Allison's life. —Sister Grimm <srgrimm@teleport.com>
    • black cat
    • psychiatrist
    • bus
    • train
    • chess
    • 154 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The most imaginative picture yet! (Newspaper ad cut).
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Crime
      • Horror
      • Romance
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Among the unconventional elements of this film was the soundtrack. At a time (early 1930s) when movie music was usually limited to the titles and credits, Edgar G. Ulmer had an almost continuous background score throughout the entire film.
    • Goofs
      One of the women in Poelzig's glass coffins visibly moves while he is admiring her.
    • Quotes

      Peter Allison: I don't know. It all sounds like a lot of supernatural baloney to me.

      Dr. Vitus Verdegast: Supernatural, perhaps. Baloney, perhaps not. There are many things under the sun.

    • Connections
      Edited from Rome Express (1932)
    • Soundtracks
      Tasso, Poem No.2, R.413
      (uncredited)
      Music by Franz Liszt
      Played as background music

    User reviews170

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Lugosi + Karloff = Fireworks!
    I can't imaging how this movie would have been without both Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff, probably very very bad. The chemistry between the two is amazing.

    This is one of those movies in which the story absolutely doesn't matter. The story is totally absurd and very simple (The black cat storyline has absolutely nothing to do with the movie and serves no purpose at all) but yet that is what maybe makes this movie extremely fun and easy to watch.

    Watching this movie made me realize something; Bela Lugosi actually was a very good actor that was ahead of his time. The way he delivers his lines and his eye for details shows that acting was a great passion for him. Yes I think I can now be considered one of his fans.

    Another great thing were the sets that were wonderful and even now 70 years later they still look very modern.

    Don't expect a movie with ghouls and monsters, it rather is more fun to watch then it is scary and the Lugosi/Karloff combination is what makes this movie a real classic.

    7/10

    http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
    helpful•34
    7
    • Boba_Fett1138
    • Dec 19, 2003

    FAQ8

    • What is 'The Black Cat' about?
    • Is 'The Black Cat' based on a book?
    • Where is Visgard located?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 7, 1934 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
      • Hungarian
    • Also known as
      • The Vanishing Body
    • Filming locations
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $95,745 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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