The Black Room (1935 film)
7 /10 1 Votes
Music director Louis Silvers Duration Country United States | 7/10 IMDb Genre Crime, Horror Screenplay Henry L. Myers Language English | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Writer Henry Myers , Arthur Strawn Release date July 15, 1935 (1935-07-15) (United States) Cast (Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman), (Thea Hassel), Robert (Tex) Allen (Lt. Albert Lussan), (Col. Paul Hassel), (Mashka), John Buckler (Beran - the gypsy)Similar movies Crimson Peak , Terminator Salvation , The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring , Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace , Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , The Matrix Tagline Dead or Alive... He could kill! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Tirol in the late 19th century, when twins are born to the ruling Baron de Berghman, the youngest, Anton, is sent away due to a family legend that the youngest twin will kill the oldest. Two decades later, the elder twin, Gregor (Boris Karloff) arranges for Antons (also Karloff) return so that the brothers may rule their country jointly. Upon Antons arrival, mysterious disappearances and murders occur and when the local peasants accuse Gregor, he assumes his more popular twins identity.
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The Black Room is a 1935 mystery-horror film, directed by Roy William Neill. The movie stars Boris Karloff in a dual role as twin brothers (a doppelganger motif). The film also features Marian Marsh and Robert (Tex) Allen. The film was released in Great Britain as The Black Room Mystery. The striking cinematography was done by Allen G. Siegler.
Karloff is once again chilling and brilliant in this highly-regarded dual role which showcases two sides of the actor. He plays twin brothers Anton and Gregor. It has been prophesied that Anton, the younger brother, will eventually murder Gregor in their castle's "Black Room." Gregor is an evil Baron who is loathed by everyone, while Anton is highly regarded and revered.
Plot
In a Tyrolean castle in the late 18th century, twin sons, Gregor and Anton, are born to the de Berghmann baronial family. The baron is concerned: there is an old prophecy in the family states that the younger brother shall kill the elder in the Black Room of the castle.
Some years later in 1834, it is revealed that the Baron Gregor (Boris Karloff) has become a depraved ruler who murders the wives of local peasants. His brother, Anton (also played by Karloff), who cannot use his right arm and has spent much of his life traveling Europe, returns to the castle around the time of the murder, but refuses to believe the rumors he hears about Gregor. When the woman Mashka (Katherine DeMille) disappears after being seen with Gregor, the locals form a mob and enter the castle, confronting the baron. Gregor agrees to abdicate, and give power to his brother, who has become popular.
Gregor knows that Anton will likely marry Thea (Marian Marsh), niece of family advisor Colonel Hassell (Thurston Hall). He lures his unsuspecting brother to the Black Room, kills him, and throws him into the pit where the dead bodies of Gregors other victims are kept. Gregor now assumes Antons identity, and prepares to wed Thea, whose lover, Lieutenant Albert Lussan (Robert Allen), angrily objects. When Colonel Hassell discovers the deception, Gregor kills him. The blame for the murder is placed on Lieutenant Lussan, who is found guilty and sentenced to death.
Only Antons mastiff recognizes that the baron is not his master, and the dog pursues Gregor when he travels to town for his wedding. Meanwhile, Lussan escapes and meets secretly with Thea, who urges him to flee. He refuses, however, and watches as the man supposed to be Anton (but in fact Gregor) fends off the dog with his right arm. The townspeople gathered to observe the celebration understand what has happened, and form a mob in a matter of seconds. The dog, followed by the mob, pursues Gregor to the castle. When Gregor hides in the Black Room, trapped by the dog and by a mob which is attempting to batter its way in, he falls into the burial pit and onto the knife still held in his murdered brothers hand. Thus, the prophecy is fulfilled, and the film ends.
Behind the scenes
The title refers to the oubliette where Gregor hides the bodies of his victims.
Cast
References
The Black Room (1935 film) WikipediaThe Black Room (1935 film) IMDb The Black Room (1935 film) themoviedb.org