Interesting "B" old dark house thriller about somebody or something killing people right and left at the estate of wealthy cripple Kurt Ingston (Ralph Morgan). Who the culprit is won't be a huge shock to you but how they are doing it is pretty cool. The main selling point of this film is the terrific cast, even though some of the bigger names have small roles. Despite being top billed, Bela Lugosi plays a minor part as a butler. Lionel Atwill also has a minor role as a doctor. Leif Erickson plays a lusty chauffeur and Nils Asther a Hindu mystic. Janet Shaw has a memorable part early on as a sassy maid who can't get away from the Ingston estate fast enough. But the best parts go to Ralph Morgan and Fay Helm as the deranged brother and sister. This is a great movie to pass an hour. Universal made it and it's usually billed as a horror film. It does have some supernatural overtones but at its heart it's basically a murder mystery. A good one, though.
50 Reviews
Let's get this straight -
the_mysteriousx13 September 2003
Warning: Spoilers
This Universal horror whodunit from 1942 raises one of the top questions among fans as to how this film should have been casted. POSSIBLE SPOILERS!
Should Atwill and Lugosi have played Ingston and Agor Singh????? The answer lies in what we the fans believe. Ford Beebe did an excellent job in directing this film. Supposedly Alfred Hitchcock thought this an important film when it was being made. It has terrific atmosphere, and it is a lot of fun. The actors are all very exciting. In the last half hour someone gets killed every five minutes too. However, the problem for fans is Atwill is seen only in the first half hour of the film and Lugosi's character is so forgotten by the end that we have no idea if he escaped the house or burned within it! Also, they are top billed. In fact, it was the only time Lugosi got top billing in a Universal film other than Dracula!!!
We must consider this - Lugosi would have had less screen time if he played Agor Singh. However, that was a juicier part and was also more involved with the horror content than the snotty butler he plays. As for Atwill, playing Ingston would have been a virtual repeat of his role as the mad sculptor in Mystery of the Wax Museum. But again, he would have had basically equal screen time if playing that role. What is so disappointing is that after the first half hour he is no longer in the film! If you accept that all actors are equal in this type of film, then you can enjoy it - It is a good film, and truly an ensemble piece. If studio marketing and Lugosi and Atwill being denied bringing forth their full talents bothers you, then you may find this disappointing. I find myself in both seats when I watch this film. I want more Lugosi and more Atwill, but it just doesn't happen, but when I follow the story, it is very enjoyable.
Ultimately, though, this film will never be considered as great as it could have BECAUSE Atwill and Lugosi are given the non-horror roles. This film would have a higher status and be considered a greater classic if it had given those two the meatier parts. Just like Dracula's Daughter. That would have been considered the best Vampire movie of all, if only Lugosi got to be in it! Universal, for all it's greatness in horror, was not perfect. I wish this film had cast Atwill as Ingston and Lugosi as Agor Singh. I do not collect Ralph Morgan films nor Nils Asther films and neither does anyone I know. Nothing against them either. They were both excellent, but what I pay for is Lugosi and Atwill. And from today's point of view, they are more important horror stars and should have played the horror roles in this film. Period.
So enjoy this film for what it is. It is still a whodunit classic (even though Ralph Morgan ALWAYS is the killer) with great atmosphere. Love those frogs that stop croaking in a simultaneous halt!
Should Atwill and Lugosi have played Ingston and Agor Singh????? The answer lies in what we the fans believe. Ford Beebe did an excellent job in directing this film. Supposedly Alfred Hitchcock thought this an important film when it was being made. It has terrific atmosphere, and it is a lot of fun. The actors are all very exciting. In the last half hour someone gets killed every five minutes too. However, the problem for fans is Atwill is seen only in the first half hour of the film and Lugosi's character is so forgotten by the end that we have no idea if he escaped the house or burned within it! Also, they are top billed. In fact, it was the only time Lugosi got top billing in a Universal film other than Dracula!!!
We must consider this - Lugosi would have had less screen time if he played Agor Singh. However, that was a juicier part and was also more involved with the horror content than the snotty butler he plays. As for Atwill, playing Ingston would have been a virtual repeat of his role as the mad sculptor in Mystery of the Wax Museum. But again, he would have had basically equal screen time if playing that role. What is so disappointing is that after the first half hour he is no longer in the film! If you accept that all actors are equal in this type of film, then you can enjoy it - It is a good film, and truly an ensemble piece. If studio marketing and Lugosi and Atwill being denied bringing forth their full talents bothers you, then you may find this disappointing. I find myself in both seats when I watch this film. I want more Lugosi and more Atwill, but it just doesn't happen, but when I follow the story, it is very enjoyable.
Ultimately, though, this film will never be considered as great as it could have BECAUSE Atwill and Lugosi are given the non-horror roles. This film would have a higher status and be considered a greater classic if it had given those two the meatier parts. Just like Dracula's Daughter. That would have been considered the best Vampire movie of all, if only Lugosi got to be in it! Universal, for all it's greatness in horror, was not perfect. I wish this film had cast Atwill as Ingston and Lugosi as Agor Singh. I do not collect Ralph Morgan films nor Nils Asther films and neither does anyone I know. Nothing against them either. They were both excellent, but what I pay for is Lugosi and Atwill. And from today's point of view, they are more important horror stars and should have played the horror roles in this film. Period.
So enjoy this film for what it is. It is still a whodunit classic (even though Ralph Morgan ALWAYS is the killer) with great atmosphere. Love those frogs that stop croaking in a simultaneous halt!
Creepy goings on at Ingston Manor
chris_gaskin12328 February 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Night Monster is one of those mystery-chillers that Universal made in the 1940's.
Doctors looking after wheelchair bound Kurt Ingston are murdered but no body seems close to finding out who the murderer is. Other murders also take place and several people get blamed for these murders including the butler and chauffeur. Kingston later discovers he can walk...
This movie has a very creepy atmosphere throughout and instead of the usual thunderstorm in this one, we get fog.
Now to the cast, which is lead by horror veteran Bela Lugosi (Dracula) as the butler and he is joined by several stars who have appeared in sci-fi/horror movies: Lionel Atwill (House of Dracula, The Ghost of Frankenstein), Leif Erickson (Invaders From Mars) and Frank Reicher (King Kong). Ingston is played well by Ralph Morgan, brother of The Wizard of Oz star Frank Morgan.
Night Monster is worth seeing if you get the chance. Very creepy.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5.
Doctors looking after wheelchair bound Kurt Ingston are murdered but no body seems close to finding out who the murderer is. Other murders also take place and several people get blamed for these murders including the butler and chauffeur. Kingston later discovers he can walk...
This movie has a very creepy atmosphere throughout and instead of the usual thunderstorm in this one, we get fog.
Now to the cast, which is lead by horror veteran Bela Lugosi (Dracula) as the butler and he is joined by several stars who have appeared in sci-fi/horror movies: Lionel Atwill (House of Dracula, The Ghost of Frankenstein), Leif Erickson (Invaders From Mars) and Frank Reicher (King Kong). Ingston is played well by Ralph Morgan, brother of The Wizard of Oz star Frank Morgan.
Night Monster is worth seeing if you get the chance. Very creepy.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5.
Best of the "B" Horror Films
lugosi2002us17 October 2002
Night Monster is the best Universal Horror film of the 30s and 40s that was NOT about one of the Major Monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolf-Man or Mummy). In fact, it may just be the best one ever. I first saw it on TV in the 1960s as a pre-teen and have seen it about 10 times since, including twice in the last year. It is a very successful film in terms of using atmosphere to communicate a sense of dread. The film effectively used the themes of Insanity, Murder, Eastern Mysticism and the properties of Nature (crickets and frogs going silent for no reason) to keep the viewer unhinged throughout the whole film. The murders are creepy and mysterious. The actors are top shelf.
I remember being scared, puzzled, mystified and wondering how the murderer got around. I remember the scene where Dr. Timmons is murdered. The actor really looked frightened. The scene where Leif Erickson's strangled body is discovered in the closet was strong stuff in the early 40s.
If you haven't seen this film...SEE IT! Just remember the time in which it was made and you will have a 73 minute feast.
I remember being scared, puzzled, mystified and wondering how the murderer got around. I remember the scene where Dr. Timmons is murdered. The actor really looked frightened. The scene where Leif Erickson's strangled body is discovered in the closet was strong stuff in the early 40s.
If you haven't seen this film...SEE IT! Just remember the time in which it was made and you will have a 73 minute feast.
Odd-Ball Universal Fare
BaronBl00d15 July 2007
During the 1940's decade, Universal Pictures attempted to continue making horror films as they did the previous decade but did try to re-invent and package them a bit differently. Their financial success never mirrored that of its earliest successes, but films like The Night Monster showed that they still had the wherewithal to make classic, good horror yarns. This film is different from most Universal horror films for a number of reasons. Yes, Bela Lugois and Lionel Atwill are in the film. Lugosi is yet again wasted playing a butler - a role I sometimes tire of seeing him relegated to for a man of his considerable talents. Atwill does better as a pompous(can he be any other way?) doctor called with two other doctors to the home of the rich man their medicine was not able to save - he was now paralyzed from the waist down. Ralph Morgan plays the crippled man hosting the doctors, another doctor called in by his sister who believes she is crazy, a hypnotist, and a couple of other servants who act and expect better than their positions might suggest. Swirling around this is a series of murders, secretive looks and discussions, and the sighting by several of a monster that comes out at night. The Night Monster is really more of a mystery than a true horror film though the eerie, foggy atmosphere helps convey significant menace. The story isn't really particularly hard to figure out, but all the actors do a very good job playing their roles. Bela is really wasted unfortunately. He certainly could have been better utilized. Atwill as always is very, very smart and clever as he delivers his dialog. Frank Reicher, of King Kong fame, gives a nice turn as a fellow doctor caught in some terrible plot. While maybe not one of Universal's brightest stars, The Night Monster is a good, entertaining film.
Just what is going on at Ingston Towers?
hitchcockthelegend10 March 2010
Tho Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill are the big name draws here, they are in fact only supporting actors within the story. But don't let that detract from this being the entertaining murder mystery spooky house picture it is. Basically we are at a house in the South in the swamp region. It is the home of Kurt Ingston, a recluse who is wheelchair bound. Here on this evening are a number of doctors invited by Ingston, who start to be killed off one by one. So who is responsible? The butler {Lugosi}, the weird housekeeper, the chauffeur, the mentally ill daughter? Or could it have something to do with the mystical Agor Singh who has been teaching Ingston the fabled art of mind over matter? Either way the mystery holds tight throughout and nothing is ever quite as it seems.
For sure it's a Universal Pictures B movie, but it's the kind of effective creeper that gets in and does its job with the minimum of fuss. High on atmosphere and containing a ream of interesting characters, it's acted professionally and finishes on a high. It may not be "And Then There Were None", and those who wish to solve the mystery before the reveal will not find it hard to do so. But this is a decent entry in a lovely sub-genre of horror, so turn off the lights and listen out for those frogs. 6.5/10
For sure it's a Universal Pictures B movie, but it's the kind of effective creeper that gets in and does its job with the minimum of fuss. High on atmosphere and containing a ream of interesting characters, it's acted professionally and finishes on a high. It may not be "And Then There Were None", and those who wish to solve the mystery before the reveal will not find it hard to do so. But this is a decent entry in a lovely sub-genre of horror, so turn off the lights and listen out for those frogs. 6.5/10
Unexpectedly original and worth seeing
planktonrules10 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This movie really surprised me. In the 1940s, Bela Lugosi made a huge number of grade-Z horror films. They might be fun to watch, but all too often the films have tons of plot holes and they were obviously made with practically no budget. This film, however, has very good production values and is quite original--and as a result, I had a very good time watching it.
Now before I go any further, it's important to note that although Lugosi got top billing and the videotape cover prominently shows his face, the film really ISN'T a Bela Lugosi film. His role, unfortunately for "Lugosi-philes" is amazingly small and ill-defined. He never seems to be the star nor does he have much to do with all the weird murders that are occurring in the film. In many ways, this is like the appearance of Lionel Atwill in the film--he's there but his part is terribly small.
Despite this, the film is still excellent and most of this is due to the excellent writing. The story is quite original and although I could guess early on who was committing all the murders, the way it was handled was very clever. Probably the best part of the film, though, was the part played by Robert Homans, as the Constable. He has so many wonderful and funny lines that I thoroughly loved watching the old curmudgeon investigate the crimes.
Finally, a bit of trivia. The rich old man in the film is played by Ralph Morgan. He bears a lot of physical resemblance to Frank Morgan (the Wizard from the Wizard of Oz) because they were brothers.
Now before I go any further, it's important to note that although Lugosi got top billing and the videotape cover prominently shows his face, the film really ISN'T a Bela Lugosi film. His role, unfortunately for "Lugosi-philes" is amazingly small and ill-defined. He never seems to be the star nor does he have much to do with all the weird murders that are occurring in the film. In many ways, this is like the appearance of Lionel Atwill in the film--he's there but his part is terribly small.
Despite this, the film is still excellent and most of this is due to the excellent writing. The story is quite original and although I could guess early on who was committing all the murders, the way it was handled was very clever. Probably the best part of the film, though, was the part played by Robert Homans, as the Constable. He has so many wonderful and funny lines that I thoroughly loved watching the old curmudgeon investigate the crimes.
Finally, a bit of trivia. The rich old man in the film is played by Ralph Morgan. He bears a lot of physical resemblance to Frank Morgan (the Wizard from the Wizard of Oz) because they were brothers.
Best Mist Ever
zapi_04 February 2011
Universal horror with Bela Lugosi playing a butler. He was always random to me, but I think I'm starting to like him. Mysterious murders are happening in a castle, the people get strangled, but there's a pool of blood near them. The big castlehouse is in a swamp. Best mist effect ever, pretty creepy. In the house live: paralyzed rich owner, his daughter who is treated by everyone like she's nuts but she might not be, always suspicious servants, while their guests are the tree doctors who saved and paralyzed the owner, the female psychiatrist invited by the daughter, horror story writer and later on a very charismatic and dryly humorous detective. But the most important guest is a mysterious Indian mystic played by the very handsome and charismatic actor Nils Asther, who can control matter on a cosmic particle level and materialize stuff like that. Supernatural whodunit. One maybe knows toward the end who did it, but not how. Alfred Hitchcock liked this movie a lot supposedly. The actors are all good, the atmosphere is good, never boring, shadow play is sometimes very good, always good and effective. the house interior is cool as it is. Of the actors I especially liked Ralph Morgan as the owner, Don Porter as the writer Dick Baldwin (it's funny because all Baldwins are dicks) i Nils Asther as Agor Singh. The latter is cool as he is, handsome, Porter is not really likable at first hand, but he's charming. Great film to watch at 2 am slightly drunk.
NIGHT MONSTER (Ford Beebe, 1942) **
Bunuel197618 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Having become acquainted with most of the classic Universal horror films at a very early age, it's rather surprising that it has taken me much longer to get to the lesser entries in the cycle. Thankfully, the Universal Monster Legacy and the Bela Lugosi Collections have introduced me to some elusive titles but, still, there are a few which, perhaps because of their obvious inferiority, are still sadly missing and the film under review here is just one of them
First things first: while Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill never quite enjoyed the (well-deserved) renown Boris Karloff got from his horror performances - and let's not forget that both of them were somewhat on the skids at the time this film was made due to private scandals - I wasn't expecting to see them appearing in such thankless roles, especially since their names were shown above the title in the credits! I guess anyone who engages Lugosi as a butler deserves all he gets (it's also amusing to me that despite living in America for almost 30 years, Lugosi never managed to drop his very thick Hungarian accent which, I suppose, is one of his charms) and Atwill is an impatient surgeon who's mercilessly picked on by one of his colleagues (for no reason I could clearly discern) and whose untimely departure from the "old dark house" of the movie brings about his death with more than half the film yet to unfold! Lugosi, apparently, also gets his in the film's fiery climax or does he? For being the nominal star of the film, the carelessness with which his fate is (or rather not) dealt with is disappointing to say the least.
For the rest, the film introduces too many characters too quickly so that it wasn't until some time into the picture that I was able to make heads or tails of who was engaged to do what in the creepy mansion. Some of these characters were engaging, especially Nils Ashter's spiritualist, Leif Erickson's boorish chauffeur, Robert Homans' investigating constable and Don Porter's whodunnit writer but some of the others (like Fay Helm's disturbed Margaret, Doris Lloyd's scheming housekeeper and, fatally, Ralph Morgan's crippled master of the house) were boring or downright annoying. Then, the sheer regularity of the murders (which happen literally moments apart at times) gives it a repetitive quality which does the film no favors, especially since none of the houseguests ever seem to be aware of anything remotely wrong happening in the very next room!
Still, for all that, the film is never less than entertaining and I can see it improving with further viewings; after all, it is crammed full of that typical Universal fog-laden ambiance which, for obvious reasons not least the usage of the same title background and parts of the music score reminds one of THE WOLF MAN (1941) and other Universal horror fare of the period. Besides, even if the film is not able to capitalize fully on it, its premise of mentally growing artificial limbs is an intriguing one and, again, not too dissimilar from the one explored in DOCTOR X (1932).
First things first: while Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill never quite enjoyed the (well-deserved) renown Boris Karloff got from his horror performances - and let's not forget that both of them were somewhat on the skids at the time this film was made due to private scandals - I wasn't expecting to see them appearing in such thankless roles, especially since their names were shown above the title in the credits! I guess anyone who engages Lugosi as a butler deserves all he gets (it's also amusing to me that despite living in America for almost 30 years, Lugosi never managed to drop his very thick Hungarian accent which, I suppose, is one of his charms) and Atwill is an impatient surgeon who's mercilessly picked on by one of his colleagues (for no reason I could clearly discern) and whose untimely departure from the "old dark house" of the movie brings about his death with more than half the film yet to unfold! Lugosi, apparently, also gets his in the film's fiery climax or does he? For being the nominal star of the film, the carelessness with which his fate is (or rather not) dealt with is disappointing to say the least.
For the rest, the film introduces too many characters too quickly so that it wasn't until some time into the picture that I was able to make heads or tails of who was engaged to do what in the creepy mansion. Some of these characters were engaging, especially Nils Ashter's spiritualist, Leif Erickson's boorish chauffeur, Robert Homans' investigating constable and Don Porter's whodunnit writer but some of the others (like Fay Helm's disturbed Margaret, Doris Lloyd's scheming housekeeper and, fatally, Ralph Morgan's crippled master of the house) were boring or downright annoying. Then, the sheer regularity of the murders (which happen literally moments apart at times) gives it a repetitive quality which does the film no favors, especially since none of the houseguests ever seem to be aware of anything remotely wrong happening in the very next room!
Still, for all that, the film is never less than entertaining and I can see it improving with further viewings; after all, it is crammed full of that typical Universal fog-laden ambiance which, for obvious reasons not least the usage of the same title background and parts of the music score reminds one of THE WOLF MAN (1941) and other Universal horror fare of the period. Besides, even if the film is not able to capitalize fully on it, its premise of mentally growing artificial limbs is an intriguing one and, again, not too dissimilar from the one explored in DOCTOR X (1932).
Atmospheric little chiller with a ridiculous solution
Prichards123451 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Night Monster was originally released as the B movie support to The Mummy's Tomb, which is something of an injustice: it's easily the best of the two movies.
The story concerns a series of murders at Ingston Towers, home of the mutilated Kurt Ingston (Ralph Morgan). Sinister blood stains keep appearing on the stairs and other locations without any apparent cause; and the household itself contains Ingston's nervous wreck of a sister (Fay Helm), a sinister - aren't they always? - Swarmi (Nils Asther), a skulking Butler (a top-billed Bela Lugosi), a lecherous Chauffeur (Leif Erickson), a domineering companion (Doris Lloyd) and three medical men summoned by Ingston to tend his wounded body, among them Lionel Atwill.
The spooky location of Pollard Slew is used to good effect in several eerie outdoor sequences in which an unseen killer stalks his prey; and director Ford Beebe keeps things moving briskly, and even brings off a sequence involving the transmigration of matter as a demonstration of the Swarmi's powers. But as the killings mount up a psychiatrist (Irene Hervey) and an author friend of Ingston's (Don Porter) begin to unravel the mystery.
Night Monster is straight out of the old dark house school of horrors; but yep, there is a supernatural explanation for all the goings on. And when it comes you will gasp at the sheer cheek of it! Let's just say it's a slight borrowing from Dr. X. Lugosi, unfortunately has very little to do and Atwill is one of the first to be murdered (off screen). Yet the film is entertaining and manages a few decent chills and surprises. It's not as famous as some of the other Universal Horror pictures but Night Monster is well worth hunting out.
The story concerns a series of murders at Ingston Towers, home of the mutilated Kurt Ingston (Ralph Morgan). Sinister blood stains keep appearing on the stairs and other locations without any apparent cause; and the household itself contains Ingston's nervous wreck of a sister (Fay Helm), a sinister - aren't they always? - Swarmi (Nils Asther), a skulking Butler (a top-billed Bela Lugosi), a lecherous Chauffeur (Leif Erickson), a domineering companion (Doris Lloyd) and three medical men summoned by Ingston to tend his wounded body, among them Lionel Atwill.
The spooky location of Pollard Slew is used to good effect in several eerie outdoor sequences in which an unseen killer stalks his prey; and director Ford Beebe keeps things moving briskly, and even brings off a sequence involving the transmigration of matter as a demonstration of the Swarmi's powers. But as the killings mount up a psychiatrist (Irene Hervey) and an author friend of Ingston's (Don Porter) begin to unravel the mystery.
Night Monster is straight out of the old dark house school of horrors; but yep, there is a supernatural explanation for all the goings on. And when it comes you will gasp at the sheer cheek of it! Let's just say it's a slight borrowing from Dr. X. Lugosi, unfortunately has very little to do and Atwill is one of the first to be murdered (off screen). Yet the film is entertaining and manages a few decent chills and surprises. It's not as famous as some of the other Universal Horror pictures but Night Monster is well worth hunting out.
Death by yoga.
BA_Harrison29 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The killer who prowls the foggy swampland surrounding Ingston Towers is so terrifying that even the frogs stop croaking when he is near. Could the murderer be Kurt Ingston (Ralph Morgan), seeking revenge on the doctors who left him a limbless invalid? Of course it is, but how is he managing to stalk and strangle his victims with missing arms and legs?
Night Monster features a bizarre plot twist that is unlike any other: the killer can materialise his missing limbs through the power of the mind (a trick taught to him by yogi Agor Singh, played by Nils Asther). Other than that, this is a fairly routine murder mystery, with many of the tried and tested elements one would expect from the genre - an old dark house with hidden passageways, swirling fog, and lots of potential victims - plus supporting roles for horror mainstays Bela Lugosi (who plays the butler) and Lionel Atwill (who plays one of the doomed doctors). Glamour is provided by Janet Shaw as unfortunate maid Milly (who doesn't deserve her fate), and Irene Hervey as psychiatrist Dr. Harper.
Night Monster features a bizarre plot twist that is unlike any other: the killer can materialise his missing limbs through the power of the mind (a trick taught to him by yogi Agor Singh, played by Nils Asther). Other than that, this is a fairly routine murder mystery, with many of the tried and tested elements one would expect from the genre - an old dark house with hidden passageways, swirling fog, and lots of potential victims - plus supporting roles for horror mainstays Bela Lugosi (who plays the butler) and Lionel Atwill (who plays one of the doomed doctors). Glamour is provided by Janet Shaw as unfortunate maid Milly (who doesn't deserve her fate), and Irene Hervey as psychiatrist Dr. Harper.
Impressed even Alfred Hitchcock
kevinolzak13 April 2011
1942's NIGHT MONSTER was a staple of Universal's SHOCK! package of classic horrors issued to television in the late 50s, showing up 6 times on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater from 1966 to 1983. This was the only Universal to grant Bela Lugosi top billing since the 1931 Dracula, with even 1932's MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE listing him below not-so-virginal ingénue Sidney Fox (a triumph for the casting couch!). For the record, other servant/butler roles Lugosi played can be found in 1933's NIGHT OF TERROR, 1939's THE GORILLA, 1944's ONE BODY TOO MANY, 1945's THE BODY SNATCHER, 1946's GENIUS AT WORK, and 1956's THE BLACK SLEEP. His Rolf has little to do, but he was still a regular participant in the studio's horrors, and always a welcome presence. 'A scream in the night through the fog on Pollard Slough,' hiding something so hideously terrifying that even the frogs stop croaking whenever its shadow passes by (if that doesn't set the proper mood, nothing will!). The opening credits are presented in front of the same forest set built for THE WOLF MAN, featuring music identical to the credits for THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN. Second billed Lionel Atwill also plays a small role, but it's the one doctor he's best suited for, getting good scene stealing mileage out of his exasperated reactions to Francis Pierlot's gland obsessed fellow physician. Kudos to beloved character actor Frank Reicher, best remembered for KING KONG, whose sensitive realistic portrayal of Dr. Timmons is vastly different from the bombastic Atwill. Tending the wealthy and powerful Kurt Ingston in his time of illness, the three have left him 'a helpless cripple, a misshapen thing that must hide even from the servants in the house.' Ralph Morgan is in top form as the wheelchair bound owner of Ingston Towers, with hilarious support from Leif Erickson as the lecherous chauffeur Laurie, even daring to flirt with Doris Lloyd's icy housekeeper, whom he refers to as 'old frozen face.' Little used actress Janet Shaw enjoys one of her few major roles, as Millie Carson, the suspicious maid who abruptly quits without notice, but makes the fatal mistake of returning for her belongings after nightfall, becoming the first on screen victim of the prowling horror, to the eerie silence of the fog shrouded darkness. Director Alfred Hitchcock was preparing SHADOW OF A DOUBT at Universal that summer, and screened this picture because he wanted to cast Janet as a burned out waitress in his film ('I'd just die for a ring like that'). Hitchcock was duly impressed by what he saw in NIGHT MONSTER, and was amazed that it was shot with great style and pace in just 11 days by producer-director Ford Beebe, who had just graduated from serial work. Despite the disappointment for some Lugosi buffs, this fan has long championed its qualities to remain genuinely frightening even today, receiving its long awaited due as a Universal horror classic, a real ensemble piece where the entire cast stands out, a genuine chiller that featured prominently on Chiller Theater, perfect viewing in the dark at 2:00 in the morning.
A better than average "Universal" chiller.
alexanderdavies-9938217 February 2019
"Night Monster" wasn't destined to be recognised for the effective horror piece that it is, when released in 1942. It was issued as the lower half of a double feature and didn't make much of an impact at the box office. One thing that hampered the film, was the lack of an established leading man in the genre. Bela Lugosi received top billing but became reduced to "supporting actor" status, cast in the thankless role of the butler of the household involved in the story. Lionel Atwill - an underrated leading man in his own right - also ended up being wasted in a role with limited screen time.
Regardless, there is plenty to enjoy with "Night Monster." Unlike other horror films from "Universal," there is a genuine sense of mystery and intrigue. The villain isn't revealed until the end and there are a few red herrings included into the bargain. The explanation that's provided with regards to the killer's movements, isn't down to the usual bogus reasons - like an escaped lunatic from the local asylum who indulges in disguises. The writers of the screenplay provide a more weird and eerie conclusion and this works to the films advantage.
We are witness to the usual recycling of sets that were used for other films by the studio at the time: the Basil Rathbone "Sherlock Holmes" films amongst others. In my opinion, none of that matters. I simply enjoyed the film before me and the running time whizzes by.
"Night Monster" deserves to be better known than it is but the timing was perhaps rather unfortunate. The 1940s saw a steady decline in Hollywood for horror films, as the demand wasn't as great as it had been during the first half of the 1930s.
So-So
fwdixon17 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This creep-fest from Universal allegedly stars Bela Lugosi & Lionel Atwill, but Atwill gets bumped off early on and Bela as the butler has little to do but lurk around suspiciously.
The plot, such as it is, involves a series of mysterious stranglings in and about the requisite spooky old house owned by a crippled bitter old man.
There's an Indian mystic, a wise-ass writer (Don Porter), a creepy housekeeper, obnoxious chauffeur, an idiot sheriff, and various other characters milling about.
Although I never saw or read about this movie before seeing it Saturday night on Svengoolie's TV show, I figured out the plot by the end of the first reel and you will too, if you chance to see it.
But it was fun to watch and a not unpleasant way to pass an idle hour or so..
The plot, such as it is, involves a series of mysterious stranglings in and about the requisite spooky old house owned by a crippled bitter old man.
There's an Indian mystic, a wise-ass writer (Don Porter), a creepy housekeeper, obnoxious chauffeur, an idiot sheriff, and various other characters milling about.
Although I never saw or read about this movie before seeing it Saturday night on Svengoolie's TV show, I figured out the plot by the end of the first reel and you will too, if you chance to see it.
But it was fun to watch and a not unpleasant way to pass an idle hour or so..
Nightmare Monster
wdbasinger1 April 2005
Universal made a great hit with this one due to the way the story is put together. This had to be one of the best "spooky house" films. The use of atmosphere in terms of foggy nights, shadows on the wall, creepy facial expressions (this is why "The Ring" was such a hit), creaky doors, puddles of blood, a skeleton materializing in a room, Bela Lugosi looking mysterious, frogs/crickets coming to a sudden silence, sinister residents of "The Towers" and more, make this one of the best shockers of the 1940s.
Ever spook yourself in a darkened room ? (Great fun!) Ever get spooked by inanimate objects in a room based on their shadows on the wall? (I used to have nightmares as a child (about 5 years of age) due to the wood patterns on a dresser that looked like ghoulish figures. My mother told me that I used to run high fevers as a child and this may account for it.) Not being a psychologist, I am not familiar with a lot of the theory underlying why this sort of thing happens, perhaps it is based on subliminal reactions to the unknown, but it is very simple to scare oneself by associating objects,shapes or shadows with some sort of subconscious fear. In any case, this movie does the same thing to an extent by creating an atmosphere of overwhelming dread by tuning to the subconscious anxieties (such as the proverbial "things that go bump in the night" ) which exist in all of us.
I am a great Bela Lugosi fan and even though he plays a red herring butler in this film, through the use of creepy facial expressions, he adds to the nightmare quality of this film. Some fans think he would have been better off in the Angar Singh role (as he played in another great film, "Night of Terror" 1933), but he is fine as the sinister butler this time. Lionel Atwill is also fun to watch. The ladies Fay Helm and Irene Harvey are great eye candy. In the last reel of the film, people are knocked off one by one until the film reaches a ghoulish climax (I won't give the ending away).
The film is similar to "Night of Terror" (1933) (one of my B-movie favorites) which is equally creepy and equally fun. The difference is that in "Night Monster", a supernatural element is added.
10/10.
Dan Basinger
Ever spook yourself in a darkened room ? (Great fun!) Ever get spooked by inanimate objects in a room based on their shadows on the wall? (I used to have nightmares as a child (about 5 years of age) due to the wood patterns on a dresser that looked like ghoulish figures. My mother told me that I used to run high fevers as a child and this may account for it.) Not being a psychologist, I am not familiar with a lot of the theory underlying why this sort of thing happens, perhaps it is based on subliminal reactions to the unknown, but it is very simple to scare oneself by associating objects,shapes or shadows with some sort of subconscious fear. In any case, this movie does the same thing to an extent by creating an atmosphere of overwhelming dread by tuning to the subconscious anxieties (such as the proverbial "things that go bump in the night" ) which exist in all of us.
I am a great Bela Lugosi fan and even though he plays a red herring butler in this film, through the use of creepy facial expressions, he adds to the nightmare quality of this film. Some fans think he would have been better off in the Angar Singh role (as he played in another great film, "Night of Terror" 1933), but he is fine as the sinister butler this time. Lionel Atwill is also fun to watch. The ladies Fay Helm and Irene Harvey are great eye candy. In the last reel of the film, people are knocked off one by one until the film reaches a ghoulish climax (I won't give the ending away).
The film is similar to "Night of Terror" (1933) (one of my B-movie favorites) which is equally creepy and equally fun. The difference is that in "Night Monster", a supernatural element is added.
10/10.
Dan Basinger
Someone or something is murdering the staff and guests at the Ingston Estate
snicewanger14 September 2015
There is a monstrous killer roaming the grounds of the estate of wealthy Kurt Ingston, but the most logical suspect has the perfect alibi. He is a bed ridden triple amputee who couldn't possible move about to commit the murders, or could he? The only clue is a look of horror transfixed on the faces of the victims. The residents and staff of the mansion seem to know a lot more than they are willing to tell.Only Ingstons sister Margaret is willing to tell what she knows about the mystery but Ingstons loyal housekeeper keeps her locked away claiming that she is insane. A mysterious Indian swami is a guest of Ingstons and is there to teach Ingston some mind control techniques to help him better deal with his physical disability. How much does he really know about the murders? Meanwhile the body count is rolling up.Its up to mystery writer Dick Baldwin and psychiatrist Dr Lynn Harper to discover the identity of the mysterious murderer before they become his next victims.
Night Monster was released in October of 1942 and was a success for Universal Studios. Director Ford Beebe had been around since before WWI and knew how to make a solid "B" picture.He masterfully guides a solid cast to create a very engrossing story. Night Monster is suspenseful and atmospheric if not a bit disappointing in the end. It's oblivious who the killer really is. It's just a question of how he is able to carry out his deeds. The show piece of the picture, when the yogi Agor Singh demonstrates his matter projection techniques demonstrates how the murderer is able to function The failure of the screenplay to properly utilize the talents of it's two top billed stars has been discussed by other reviewers. I will just say that the miscasting of both Atwill and Lugosi keeps Night Monster from being the classic horror mystery it could have been instead of the entertaining but predictable film that it is.
Night Monster was released in October of 1942 and was a success for Universal Studios. Director Ford Beebe had been around since before WWI and knew how to make a solid "B" picture.He masterfully guides a solid cast to create a very engrossing story. Night Monster is suspenseful and atmospheric if not a bit disappointing in the end. It's oblivious who the killer really is. It's just a question of how he is able to carry out his deeds. The show piece of the picture, when the yogi Agor Singh demonstrates his matter projection techniques demonstrates how the murderer is able to function The failure of the screenplay to properly utilize the talents of it's two top billed stars has been discussed by other reviewers. I will just say that the miscasting of both Atwill and Lugosi keeps Night Monster from being the classic horror mystery it could have been instead of the entertaining but predictable film that it is.
Twas a Foggy, Foggy Night!
bsmith55529 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
"Night Monster" was another of those foggy night pictures turned out by Universal in the 1940s. Top billed Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill have little to do this time around.
Rich and powerful but wheel chair bound Kurt Ingston (Ralph Morgan) has called the three doctors who had operated on him rendering him without limbs to his creepy mansion for a planned retribution. His unstable sister, Margaret (Fay Helm) has reached out to Dr. Lynne Harper (Irene Hervey) unbeknownst to Kurt for help.
Ingston maid Molly Carson (Janet Shaw) is leery of the goings on and quits her job. The chauffeur Laurie (Leif Erikson) is driving her to town when he pulls over and tries to come on to her. She flees and is picked up by Jed Harmon (Eddy Waller) who later brings her back to collect her possessions. Some one phones the gatekeeper Torque (Cyril Deleventi) to tell Harmon not to wait as Molly has decided to stay the night. Not true. When Molly finds Harmon gone she is forced to walk when she hears noises and winds up murdered.
The three doctors, King (Atwill), Timmons (Frank Reicher) and Phipps (Francis Pierlot) arrive. Dr. Harper whose car has broken down is rescued by Dick Baldwin (Don Porter), a mystery writer and friend of Ingston.
Ingston calls everyone to the living room to have his friend Agor Singh (Nils Asther) give a demonstration of the transfer of matter from one place to another. A skeleton magically appears along with a blood stain on the carpet.
The three doctors are murdered one by one and Police constable Cap Beggs (Robert Homans) is called in. Then Laurie is found murdered.When Baldwin spirits Dr. Harper away a mysterious figure emerges from within the house and begins to stalk the couple. Could this be the killer? Who is it?
Lugosi and Atwill are totally wasted in this film Lugosi is the sinister looking butler Rolf (the butler didn't do it) and Atwill the first doctor to be murdered not even half way into the film. Homans as the Police Constable is too old for his role, I thought.
Standard Universal fare.
Rich and powerful but wheel chair bound Kurt Ingston (Ralph Morgan) has called the three doctors who had operated on him rendering him without limbs to his creepy mansion for a planned retribution. His unstable sister, Margaret (Fay Helm) has reached out to Dr. Lynne Harper (Irene Hervey) unbeknownst to Kurt for help.
Ingston maid Molly Carson (Janet Shaw) is leery of the goings on and quits her job. The chauffeur Laurie (Leif Erikson) is driving her to town when he pulls over and tries to come on to her. She flees and is picked up by Jed Harmon (Eddy Waller) who later brings her back to collect her possessions. Some one phones the gatekeeper Torque (Cyril Deleventi) to tell Harmon not to wait as Molly has decided to stay the night. Not true. When Molly finds Harmon gone she is forced to walk when she hears noises and winds up murdered.
The three doctors, King (Atwill), Timmons (Frank Reicher) and Phipps (Francis Pierlot) arrive. Dr. Harper whose car has broken down is rescued by Dick Baldwin (Don Porter), a mystery writer and friend of Ingston.
Ingston calls everyone to the living room to have his friend Agor Singh (Nils Asther) give a demonstration of the transfer of matter from one place to another. A skeleton magically appears along with a blood stain on the carpet.
The three doctors are murdered one by one and Police constable Cap Beggs (Robert Homans) is called in. Then Laurie is found murdered.When Baldwin spirits Dr. Harper away a mysterious figure emerges from within the house and begins to stalk the couple. Could this be the killer? Who is it?
Lugosi and Atwill are totally wasted in this film Lugosi is the sinister looking butler Rolf (the butler didn't do it) and Atwill the first doctor to be murdered not even half way into the film. Homans as the Police Constable is too old for his role, I thought.
Standard Universal fare.
Better than average.
alexanderdavies-9938216 May 2017
"Night Monster" is a minor but effective horror film from "Universal."
There aren't many well known people in the cast except Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill. Even so , they have little to do.
There is an aura of mystery with this film and a fair amount of intrigue.
Nothing is quite what it seems.
There aren't many well known people in the cast except Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill. Even so , they have little to do.
There is an aura of mystery with this film and a fair amount of intrigue.
Nothing is quite what it seems.
The House of Mystery
lugonian18 November 2018
NIGHT MONSTER (Universal, 1942), produced and directed by Ford Beebe, starring Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill, is more murder mystery than horror film regardless of what the title depicts and its leading players. Lugosi and Atwill, resident horror stars for the studio, interestingly don't play mad scientists reviving the dead nor creating monsters, or pit against each other, but are actually its individual supporting players to the leading supporting actors. Taken from an original screenplay by Clarence Upson-Young, the plot itself may have been an original idea according to the opening credits, but actually a recycled story with creative new ideas that makes this one of the better mysteries to come out for this second feature "B" unit.
The story takes place at an estate known as Ingston Towers located in a secluded location surrounded by marshlands. The house of mystery contains residents as Rolf (Bela Lugosi), the butler; Laurie (Leif Erickson), the chauffeur; Margaret Ingston (Fay Helm) a young heiress led to believed to be insane by its domineering housekeeper, Miss Sarah Judd (Doris Lloyd), who cleans off blood stains off the carpet; Torgue (Cyril Delevanti), the gate keeper; Millie Carson (Janet Shaw), a maid who quits due to strange occurrences; Curt Ingston (Ralph Morgan), the owner and old man whose paralyzed condition from an operation by several doctors has led him to become a helpless recluse. Ingston hires Agor Singh (Nils Asther), a turpin-wearing man with mystic powers, to help him out spiritually. Because of mysterious circumstances that have been occurring, Millie informs Constable Cap Beggs (Robert Homans) in town, but he's unable to assist her accusations without any proof of evidence. After Millie returns to the estate to pick up for her personal belongings, she leaves the home to is later found dead in the marshes. Arriving at the estate are Lynne Harper (Irene Hervey), a psychiatrist sent for by Margaret to prove to others that she is not insane; Dick Baldwin (Don Porter), a mystery writer; and doctors King (LIonel Atwill), Timmons (Frank Reicher) and Phipps (Francis Pierlot), the men responsible for Ingston's bed-ridden condition, also enter the scene. Eventually a series of one-by-one murders take place, having Beggs to come and do some investigation. Also in the cast is Eddy Waller playing Jeb Harmon.
Regardless of Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill receiving star billing, the film basically belongs to others in the cast, especially Ralph Morgan. Lugosi plays the butler with little to do. Considering its present casting, Lugosi and Nils Asther (as the medium), it might have been more effective had Lugosi and Asther switched roles, as with the switch casting of both Lionel Atwill and Ralph Morgan as well. Atwill, surprisingly has even less to do here, and is sadly wasted. While Fay Helm and Doris Lloyd, heiress and housekeeper who hate each other, get meatier roles, there's Janet Shaw (best known for her small role as the waitress in Alfred Hitchcock's SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1942), with her distinctive throaty voice and personality, who gathers enough attention. Don Porter and Irene Hervey typically support as the couple who meet and become romantically involved. Another familiar pattern is the background underscoring used in many Universal thrillers of the day. For a Bela Lugosi movie, NIGHT MONSTER is definitely better structured than those cheaply made productions he did at the same time over at Monogram Studio (1941-1944)s. At least budget and production values by Universal standards are much higher than Monogram's.
Commonly shown on television in the 1960s and 70s as part of the horror movie package that often aired Saturday nights, NIGHT MONSTER has become forgotten over the years due to lack of revivals. Eventually NIGHT MONSTER did get resurrected again on video cassette in the mid 1990s and DVD a decade later. Revivals on cable television notably on ME-TV playing part of Saturday evening's "Svengoolie," and Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: October 24, 2018), assuring modern-day interest and rediscovery to a new generation of viewers interested in mystery-horror tales such as this. (**1/2).
The story takes place at an estate known as Ingston Towers located in a secluded location surrounded by marshlands. The house of mystery contains residents as Rolf (Bela Lugosi), the butler; Laurie (Leif Erickson), the chauffeur; Margaret Ingston (Fay Helm) a young heiress led to believed to be insane by its domineering housekeeper, Miss Sarah Judd (Doris Lloyd), who cleans off blood stains off the carpet; Torgue (Cyril Delevanti), the gate keeper; Millie Carson (Janet Shaw), a maid who quits due to strange occurrences; Curt Ingston (Ralph Morgan), the owner and old man whose paralyzed condition from an operation by several doctors has led him to become a helpless recluse. Ingston hires Agor Singh (Nils Asther), a turpin-wearing man with mystic powers, to help him out spiritually. Because of mysterious circumstances that have been occurring, Millie informs Constable Cap Beggs (Robert Homans) in town, but he's unable to assist her accusations without any proof of evidence. After Millie returns to the estate to pick up for her personal belongings, she leaves the home to is later found dead in the marshes. Arriving at the estate are Lynne Harper (Irene Hervey), a psychiatrist sent for by Margaret to prove to others that she is not insane; Dick Baldwin (Don Porter), a mystery writer; and doctors King (LIonel Atwill), Timmons (Frank Reicher) and Phipps (Francis Pierlot), the men responsible for Ingston's bed-ridden condition, also enter the scene. Eventually a series of one-by-one murders take place, having Beggs to come and do some investigation. Also in the cast is Eddy Waller playing Jeb Harmon.
Regardless of Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill receiving star billing, the film basically belongs to others in the cast, especially Ralph Morgan. Lugosi plays the butler with little to do. Considering its present casting, Lugosi and Nils Asther (as the medium), it might have been more effective had Lugosi and Asther switched roles, as with the switch casting of both Lionel Atwill and Ralph Morgan as well. Atwill, surprisingly has even less to do here, and is sadly wasted. While Fay Helm and Doris Lloyd, heiress and housekeeper who hate each other, get meatier roles, there's Janet Shaw (best known for her small role as the waitress in Alfred Hitchcock's SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1942), with her distinctive throaty voice and personality, who gathers enough attention. Don Porter and Irene Hervey typically support as the couple who meet and become romantically involved. Another familiar pattern is the background underscoring used in many Universal thrillers of the day. For a Bela Lugosi movie, NIGHT MONSTER is definitely better structured than those cheaply made productions he did at the same time over at Monogram Studio (1941-1944)s. At least budget and production values by Universal standards are much higher than Monogram's.
Commonly shown on television in the 1960s and 70s as part of the horror movie package that often aired Saturday nights, NIGHT MONSTER has become forgotten over the years due to lack of revivals. Eventually NIGHT MONSTER did get resurrected again on video cassette in the mid 1990s and DVD a decade later. Revivals on cable television notably on ME-TV playing part of Saturday evening's "Svengoolie," and Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: October 24, 2018), assuring modern-day interest and rediscovery to a new generation of viewers interested in mystery-horror tales such as this. (**1/2).
A fatal consultation
bkoganbing3 October 2015
Some medical doctors led by Lionel Atwill are brought to the estate of the rich, but bedridden Ralph Morgan. They're there to watch a demonstration of the occult powers of a Hindu fakir played by Nils Asther.
Well this guy really has something, by sheer concentrated will power Asther creates a skeleton and might create a whole man before his concentration is broken. If you can teach this technique to amputees you might have them recreate and grow lost limbs. Of course this is all in the experimental stage. But pretty soon a whole lot of people around the estate start dying and the more that die, the suspect list gets shorter for police captain Robert Homans. In fact all the doctors but Irene Harvey start dying off as well as other guests and staff of the household.
Universal Pictures in this Gothic horror story with no real monsters as such spent a lot of this budget on getting a slew of players who specialize and/or have played some creepy villains. The cast is led by Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill who are the only ones billed above the title. Lugosi plays Morgan's butler and legend has it that butlers are the first to be looked at in any mystery. But believe any one or combination thereof are plausible culprits.
Quite an unusual ending here though, but keep in mind what all these people are gathered to witness. Night Monster is shot on the cheap, but this cast of players more than makes up for it.
Well this guy really has something, by sheer concentrated will power Asther creates a skeleton and might create a whole man before his concentration is broken. If you can teach this technique to amputees you might have them recreate and grow lost limbs. Of course this is all in the experimental stage. But pretty soon a whole lot of people around the estate start dying and the more that die, the suspect list gets shorter for police captain Robert Homans. In fact all the doctors but Irene Harvey start dying off as well as other guests and staff of the household.
Universal Pictures in this Gothic horror story with no real monsters as such spent a lot of this budget on getting a slew of players who specialize and/or have played some creepy villains. The cast is led by Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill who are the only ones billed above the title. Lugosi plays Morgan's butler and legend has it that butlers are the first to be looked at in any mystery. But believe any one or combination thereof are plausible culprits.
Quite an unusual ending here though, but keep in mind what all these people are gathered to witness. Night Monster is shot on the cheap, but this cast of players more than makes up for it.
Interesting Combination of Elements
Reviews_of_the_Dead10 August 2022
This is a movie that I hadn't heard of until looking for horror from 1942. Looking into it, I saw that it starred Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill, a couple of actors from the era that I'm a fan of. It was also interesting to see that this is a Universal film. This is one that you don't hear about since it seems to be a one-off. With all of that, I decided to make this a Trek through the Twos.
Synopsis: Kurt Ingston (Ralph Morgan), a rich recluse, invites the doctors who left him a hopeless cripple to his desolate mansion in the swamps as one by one they meet horrible fates.
We start with an interesting setup. This takes place at Ingston Towers. Agor Singh (Nils Asther) is let in as he was requested by the man who owns this place of Kurt Ingston. This place seems to be a mental institute of sorts or the people working there believe it to be. Agor enters and spies on a house cleaner of Sarah Judd (Doris Lloyd) who is cleaning up a spot of blood. She lies to Kurt's sister who sees her, Margaret (Fay Helm). Part of this is that Margaret's mental health is unsteady. Sarah gaslights her as well.
There is more commotion than this. Milly Carson (Janet Shaw) tries to make a call to a police officer but is stopped by the butler, Rolf (Lugosi). She quits without notice. She then has a run in with their driver, Laurie (Leif Erickson). She chooses to walk than kiss him. Lucky for her, she is helped into town by a guy with a horse and carriage.
At the train station, we have a group of doctors who know each other arrive around the same time. There is Dr. King (Atwill), Dr. Timmons (Frank Reicher) and Dr. Phipps (Francis Pierlot). They're all shocked to learn that they were requested to be here by Kurt. Their connection is that they all tried to help him but failed. The result left Kurt crippled. Laurie is there to drive them to Ingston Towers.
There is another doctor joining them. Margaret requested a Dr. Lynne Harper (Irene Hervey) come to the Towers. She is a psychiatrist. Her car breaks down though and Dick Baldwin (Don Porter) offers her a ride. He is also going to the Towers. He's a friend of Kurt and he's a horror writer. Everyone here converges along with Milly. She went to Constable Cap Beggs (Robert Homans), but since no crime has been committed then he cannot help. She is going back for her things and to leave.
At night, around this place, there is an odd thing that happens. There is fog and the frogs in the nearby bog stop croaking. Dick and Dr. Harper hear a scream along with a terrifying figure. Milly is soon found dead. This brings Beggs to the house to solve the murder. Kurt is helping with the investigation, but his staff isn't so forthcoming. Sarah is also keeping Margaret from talking to Lynne. The purpose for other doctors is for Kurt to show that he's created a mechanical way to use one of his arms. He's also found a way to heal himself with the help of Agor. It seems like a way for them to see, but there is also murder as these doctors are killed one by one. Lynne seems to know who the killer is, making her a target as well.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. What struck me about this movie is something I've already said, this is a lesser talked about Universal film. We have the likes of Lugosi and Atwill, but they play minor roles here. The cast is strong around them as well. I don't necessarily recognize the names, but I looked up some of the other people. Everyone seemed to have at least 50 credits to their name. They were working. I'll just delve into the acting here as well. Morgan is solid as this eccentric Kurt. He is angry for what happened to him, but he covers it well. Porter is fine as our male lead here. He doesn't do great about coming to the forefront. I like Hervey who feels like the true hero as Dr. Harper. Helm works as Margaret. I also like Asther, Lloyd, Erickson, Homans along with the cameos by Atwill, Reicher and Lugosi. The cast here is solid across the board and help give their characters life.
Where I'll shift then is to the concept of this movie. We are combining elements, which is interesting. This movie is taking them from a few different places. One of them I won't reveal as it is spoiler. What I will say is that it takes from a movie from 1932 that I had recently watched. Something I will say is that we have a murder mystery. This is common for the era. There could be a supernatural killer, in this case a monster, or it could be someone posing as it. They use the 'old dark house' with secret passages. I'm a sucker for that. This also seems to be looking at alternative ways of healing. Having the three doctors is interesting. Dr. King thinks modern medicine is the only way. Dr. Phipps is in the middle where Dr. Timmons knows they failed Kurt. I like having this range of medical professionals. There is also Dr. Harper who is a doctor of the mind. Kurt doesn't buy it and Sarah tries to prevent her from talking to Margaret. This is still somewhat of a taboo so I'm not shocked to see what we get here. This seems to be an amalgamation of all these different things. I can appreciate it though.
The last part of the story I want to go into would be the murder mystery. I'll be honest, I guessed this one. I don't want to fault the movie for this. What I will hold against it is that it is something that I've seen in a few movies like this. What worked though was this being cheeky with it. Having Dick here, he points out who the most likely suspect is. Another character does as well. What I like is that we have red herrings. Realistically, it could be Rolf and I'll admit part of that is due to the accent. Laurie is a big hulking guy. Agor is a minority so he'll always be a suspect. A movie like this could also throw in a wild card if needed. I don't mind how this part played out regardless that I guessed it correctly.
Finally, I'll go into the rest of the filmmaking aspects. I've already brought up the 'old dark house' stuff so I will say that the setting is good. It worked for what the movie needed. This could even be a stage play if they wanted. I'd say the rest of the cinematography was fine. It didn't stand out, but it was standard for the era. There were limited effects as well. We do get an interesting scene where Agor materializes a skeleton. There is a limited amount of blood. There also could be a potential monster near the end. That all was fine. The only other thing was the soundtrack which worked for what was needed.
In conclusion, this is an under talked about Universal entry. I think part of the issue there is that it is borrowing from other things that the company or other films did. We get a bit of the 'old dark house', a murder mystery and a potential monster. It makes this entertaining. There is a solid cast here that brings all the characters to life. I think the setting is good. What we get for the effects were fine. The soundtrack didn't necessarily stand out, but it also didn't need to. I would then say that this is an above average movie and deserves to be seen more. This is one that I'd call a hidden gem.
My Rating: 7 out of 10.
Synopsis: Kurt Ingston (Ralph Morgan), a rich recluse, invites the doctors who left him a hopeless cripple to his desolate mansion in the swamps as one by one they meet horrible fates.
We start with an interesting setup. This takes place at Ingston Towers. Agor Singh (Nils Asther) is let in as he was requested by the man who owns this place of Kurt Ingston. This place seems to be a mental institute of sorts or the people working there believe it to be. Agor enters and spies on a house cleaner of Sarah Judd (Doris Lloyd) who is cleaning up a spot of blood. She lies to Kurt's sister who sees her, Margaret (Fay Helm). Part of this is that Margaret's mental health is unsteady. Sarah gaslights her as well.
There is more commotion than this. Milly Carson (Janet Shaw) tries to make a call to a police officer but is stopped by the butler, Rolf (Lugosi). She quits without notice. She then has a run in with their driver, Laurie (Leif Erickson). She chooses to walk than kiss him. Lucky for her, she is helped into town by a guy with a horse and carriage.
At the train station, we have a group of doctors who know each other arrive around the same time. There is Dr. King (Atwill), Dr. Timmons (Frank Reicher) and Dr. Phipps (Francis Pierlot). They're all shocked to learn that they were requested to be here by Kurt. Their connection is that they all tried to help him but failed. The result left Kurt crippled. Laurie is there to drive them to Ingston Towers.
There is another doctor joining them. Margaret requested a Dr. Lynne Harper (Irene Hervey) come to the Towers. She is a psychiatrist. Her car breaks down though and Dick Baldwin (Don Porter) offers her a ride. He is also going to the Towers. He's a friend of Kurt and he's a horror writer. Everyone here converges along with Milly. She went to Constable Cap Beggs (Robert Homans), but since no crime has been committed then he cannot help. She is going back for her things and to leave.
At night, around this place, there is an odd thing that happens. There is fog and the frogs in the nearby bog stop croaking. Dick and Dr. Harper hear a scream along with a terrifying figure. Milly is soon found dead. This brings Beggs to the house to solve the murder. Kurt is helping with the investigation, but his staff isn't so forthcoming. Sarah is also keeping Margaret from talking to Lynne. The purpose for other doctors is for Kurt to show that he's created a mechanical way to use one of his arms. He's also found a way to heal himself with the help of Agor. It seems like a way for them to see, but there is also murder as these doctors are killed one by one. Lynne seems to know who the killer is, making her a target as well.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. What struck me about this movie is something I've already said, this is a lesser talked about Universal film. We have the likes of Lugosi and Atwill, but they play minor roles here. The cast is strong around them as well. I don't necessarily recognize the names, but I looked up some of the other people. Everyone seemed to have at least 50 credits to their name. They were working. I'll just delve into the acting here as well. Morgan is solid as this eccentric Kurt. He is angry for what happened to him, but he covers it well. Porter is fine as our male lead here. He doesn't do great about coming to the forefront. I like Hervey who feels like the true hero as Dr. Harper. Helm works as Margaret. I also like Asther, Lloyd, Erickson, Homans along with the cameos by Atwill, Reicher and Lugosi. The cast here is solid across the board and help give their characters life.
Where I'll shift then is to the concept of this movie. We are combining elements, which is interesting. This movie is taking them from a few different places. One of them I won't reveal as it is spoiler. What I will say is that it takes from a movie from 1932 that I had recently watched. Something I will say is that we have a murder mystery. This is common for the era. There could be a supernatural killer, in this case a monster, or it could be someone posing as it. They use the 'old dark house' with secret passages. I'm a sucker for that. This also seems to be looking at alternative ways of healing. Having the three doctors is interesting. Dr. King thinks modern medicine is the only way. Dr. Phipps is in the middle where Dr. Timmons knows they failed Kurt. I like having this range of medical professionals. There is also Dr. Harper who is a doctor of the mind. Kurt doesn't buy it and Sarah tries to prevent her from talking to Margaret. This is still somewhat of a taboo so I'm not shocked to see what we get here. This seems to be an amalgamation of all these different things. I can appreciate it though.
The last part of the story I want to go into would be the murder mystery. I'll be honest, I guessed this one. I don't want to fault the movie for this. What I will hold against it is that it is something that I've seen in a few movies like this. What worked though was this being cheeky with it. Having Dick here, he points out who the most likely suspect is. Another character does as well. What I like is that we have red herrings. Realistically, it could be Rolf and I'll admit part of that is due to the accent. Laurie is a big hulking guy. Agor is a minority so he'll always be a suspect. A movie like this could also throw in a wild card if needed. I don't mind how this part played out regardless that I guessed it correctly.
Finally, I'll go into the rest of the filmmaking aspects. I've already brought up the 'old dark house' stuff so I will say that the setting is good. It worked for what the movie needed. This could even be a stage play if they wanted. I'd say the rest of the cinematography was fine. It didn't stand out, but it was standard for the era. There were limited effects as well. We do get an interesting scene where Agor materializes a skeleton. There is a limited amount of blood. There also could be a potential monster near the end. That all was fine. The only other thing was the soundtrack which worked for what was needed.
In conclusion, this is an under talked about Universal entry. I think part of the issue there is that it is borrowing from other things that the company or other films did. We get a bit of the 'old dark house', a murder mystery and a potential monster. It makes this entertaining. There is a solid cast here that brings all the characters to life. I think the setting is good. What we get for the effects were fine. The soundtrack didn't necessarily stand out, but it also didn't need to. I would then say that this is an above average movie and deserves to be seen more. This is one that I'd call a hidden gem.
My Rating: 7 out of 10.
Unusual Monster Yarn.
AaronCapenBanner24 October 2013
Ralph Morgan plays millionaire recluse Kurt Ingston, who was left a hopeless cripple by the bungling of three doctors(played by Lionel Atwill, Frank Reicher, and Francis Pierlot) who are nonetheless invited to his mansion in the swamps. They accept, and unsurprisingly are murdered one by one. Meanwhile, a mystic is also in attendance, and seems to have the ability to make a bleeding skeleton materialize! Does any of this connect to the murders, or is another party responsible? Strange film also costars Bela Lugosi, once again wasted in a supporting role. Film has some imagination in its plot and ultimate resolution, but is very far-fetched, bordering on absurd. Some good atmosphere compensates though.
Excellent B horror film from Universal
preppy-313 October 2010
Crippled Kurt Ingston (Ralph Morgan) has no arms or legs despite the fact that three doctors tried to save him (from what is never said). He invites all three of them to his creepy estate and says there are no hard feelings...but then the doctors start getting killed and his house is full of suspicious characters.
I caught this on late night TV when I was a kid and remember being pleasurably spooked by it. It's nice to see it still holds up all these years later. First off don't let the top billing of Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill fool you--they're hardly in the movie. Lugosi is totally wasted as a sinister butler and Atwill chews the scenery but is gone halfway through the movie. Most of it deals with Morgan and various supporting characters. The good thing is all the supporting actors are interesting and well-acted especially by Leif Erickson as a lecherous chauffeur and Nils Asther as a sinister yogi. The direction is very good and the movie has a nice dark atmosphere. There's a VERY spooky scene where one of the doctors is approached by the killer. Another nice touch is all the frogs and animals in the swamp surrounding the estate go dead quiet when the killer appears. The sudden dead silence is more than a little unnerving. The final sequence when you find out who the killer is doesn't make a lot of sense but the movie is so good that you let that go. A low-budget horror from Universal that is exceptionally well-done. I give it an 8.
I caught this on late night TV when I was a kid and remember being pleasurably spooked by it. It's nice to see it still holds up all these years later. First off don't let the top billing of Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill fool you--they're hardly in the movie. Lugosi is totally wasted as a sinister butler and Atwill chews the scenery but is gone halfway through the movie. Most of it deals with Morgan and various supporting characters. The good thing is all the supporting actors are interesting and well-acted especially by Leif Erickson as a lecherous chauffeur and Nils Asther as a sinister yogi. The direction is very good and the movie has a nice dark atmosphere. There's a VERY spooky scene where one of the doctors is approached by the killer. Another nice touch is all the frogs and animals in the swamp surrounding the estate go dead quiet when the killer appears. The sudden dead silence is more than a little unnerving. The final sequence when you find out who the killer is doesn't make a lot of sense but the movie is so good that you let that go. A low-budget horror from Universal that is exceptionally well-done. I give it an 8.
"This fog seems to seep through and creep right into your bones"
boscofl25 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A slickly produced thriller, Night Monster serves up a familiar revenge premise seasoned with East Indian mysticism and an impressive death toll. The identity of the homicidal culprit is telegraphed early on while the emphasis is placed on how his/her evil deeds are accomplished. Some Universal fans have dinged the movie for promoting Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill as the stars when in actuality they are red herrings; it is certainly disappointing that they aren't more involved but the focus on an ensemble makes for a compelling narrative. Producer and Director Ford Beebe deploys a talented cast and repurposes some familiar-looking sets to deliver his tale while promoting a remarkably creepy atmosphere. Easily one of the more underrated studio horror films from the era.
The film commences with Agor Singh (Nils Asther) strolling through the gates of Ingston Manor to visit its crippled namesake Kurt (Ralph Morgan). Seems the estate is enveloped in all kinds of mystery and weird goings on including the murder of a physician in the nearby Pollard Slough. Ingston's sister Margaret (Fay Helm), feeling she is losing her grip on reality amidst bizarre occurrences like random blood splotches on the carpet, has summoned renowned psychiatrist Dr. Harper (Irene Hervey) to make sense of her neuroses. Housekeeper Millie (Janet Shaw) is fed up with the spooky shenanigans, too, and quits much to the displeasure of Rolf (Bela Lugosi) the butler who warns her against spreading gossip. Meanwhile Ingston has sent for his mystery novelist friend Dick Baldwin (Don Porter) and the 3 doctors who attended him during his illness and left him crippled: the haughty King (Lionel Atwill), guilt-ridden Timmons (Frank Reicher), and Phipps (Francis Pierlot). Pretty soon everyone is assembled in the creepy mansion and folks start getting knocked off one by one.
The screenplay by Clarence Upson Young grafts elements of mysticism and astral projection onto the standard themes of revenge and drawing room intrigue. While masquerading as a mystery the identity of the killer is tipped pretty early for savvy viewers and the lack of motivation for other potential suspects undermines the "who-done-it?" angle. In fact, the identity is definitively dropped about 15 minutes before the end which leaves the question of how the murders are being accomplished as the ultimate riddle. It seems everyone in the household knows what's going on from the start but no one is willing to fess up to the outside parties which wears a little thin at times. Frankly I've never grasped the mystical concepts Agor Singh promotes but it provides a unique method for the killer to operate with. Fortunately Singh is there to wrap everything up with a bow for any confused spectators before the fade out. The script unfortunately runs into considerable trouble with the depiction of Laurie (Leif Erickson), the Ingston chauffeur. Most likely intended as a glib skirt-chaser Laurie emerges today as a thwarted rapist and may temper a modern viewer's assessment of the overall film. Another issue comes with the character of Agor Singh who knows who the killer is from the second he sashays through the gates but prefers to wait for 5 more murders to occur before acting on this knowledge.
Director Beebe does a stellar job concocting the look of his film with abundant use of shadows, low lighting, and endless fog. He does go a bit overboard with the bombastic musical cues that emphasize every dramatic moment but the familiar strains from The Wolf Man, Ghost of Frankenstein, and others are always a welcome auditory experience. Beebe goes a step further in the sound department by employing croaking frogs during the nighttime scenes whose utterances stop on a dime whenever the killer is lurking about. A very nice touch. The film is also a treasure trove of backlot locations that have graced the screen in many a Universal thriller; notably the Ingston main gate, the main foyer of the Ingston home, the mansion hallways, and the train station.
Remarkably this is only the second (and last) time Bela Lugosi would be top billed in a Universal feature film and quite a shame it didn't result in a better role. Rolf the butler exists mainly as a diversion and possible culprit; Lugosi endows the underwritten character with a haughty quality that spices up his rather nondescript part. He's also a bit on the squeamish side when it comes to blood which is also a nice subversive touch Thoroughly wasted on the other hand is Lionel Atwill as Doctor King which is puzzling to say the least. He's even the first to get bumped off and is gone from the story after 29 minutes. Atwill gives one of his stock, pompous performances that is so unique to the performer. Inhabiting the most mysterious role of Agor Singh is Nils Asther who is convincing enough but it is impossible not to contemplate why Lugosi wasn't given this role. Cast as the ostensible romantic leads are Don Porter and Irene Hervey; two thespians who aren't required to do much and are up to the task.
The rest of the ensemble is peppered with many familiar Universal faces. Frank Morgan cops the pivotal role of Kurt Ingston and imbues minimal subtlety into the part while embracing his opportunities to inject a touch of the ominous with many of his line readings (as with Lugosi we are left to ponder the possibilities of Atwill being cast as Ingston). Selected rather improbably to portray his sister is Fay Helm who flexes her underrated acting muscles to give arguably the movie's best performance. After portraying Miss Helm's grieving mother in The Wolf Man Doris Lloyd transitions into her oppressor as the Mrs Danvers-style housekeeper Miss Judd. Fresh off terrorizing Lou Costello in Pardon My Sarong (and being hysterically funny doing it) is Leif Erickson as the degenerate Laurie. He seems determined to sexually assault every female cast member in a role that has aged horribly. Frank Reicher does a swell job as the contrite Dr. Timmons; a man full of regret and in direct contrast to his imperious colleague Dr. King. One breath of fresh air in a moldy premise is the spunky Janet Shaw who was famously pursued by Alfred Hitchcock during the making of this film for a role in the Master's current project, Shadow of a Doubt. Miss Shaw and Reicher share the distinction of appearing in both this and The Mummy's Tomb which shared a double bill with Night Monster.
With an impressive death toll, a few well-staged murder scenes, and an eerie atmosphere Night Monster emerges as a surprisingly compelling thriller. Certainly more care and attention to detail are present in this endeavor than most of the assembly line chillers being turned out by Universal at this time. The studio's decision to promote Lugosi and Atwill as the stars while shunning them into the backround is confounding; why they weren't given better roles is anyone's guess. However, it is a testament to how good the film is that one can get over the big guns being sidelined and enjoy the ride.
The film commences with Agor Singh (Nils Asther) strolling through the gates of Ingston Manor to visit its crippled namesake Kurt (Ralph Morgan). Seems the estate is enveloped in all kinds of mystery and weird goings on including the murder of a physician in the nearby Pollard Slough. Ingston's sister Margaret (Fay Helm), feeling she is losing her grip on reality amidst bizarre occurrences like random blood splotches on the carpet, has summoned renowned psychiatrist Dr. Harper (Irene Hervey) to make sense of her neuroses. Housekeeper Millie (Janet Shaw) is fed up with the spooky shenanigans, too, and quits much to the displeasure of Rolf (Bela Lugosi) the butler who warns her against spreading gossip. Meanwhile Ingston has sent for his mystery novelist friend Dick Baldwin (Don Porter) and the 3 doctors who attended him during his illness and left him crippled: the haughty King (Lionel Atwill), guilt-ridden Timmons (Frank Reicher), and Phipps (Francis Pierlot). Pretty soon everyone is assembled in the creepy mansion and folks start getting knocked off one by one.
The screenplay by Clarence Upson Young grafts elements of mysticism and astral projection onto the standard themes of revenge and drawing room intrigue. While masquerading as a mystery the identity of the killer is tipped pretty early for savvy viewers and the lack of motivation for other potential suspects undermines the "who-done-it?" angle. In fact, the identity is definitively dropped about 15 minutes before the end which leaves the question of how the murders are being accomplished as the ultimate riddle. It seems everyone in the household knows what's going on from the start but no one is willing to fess up to the outside parties which wears a little thin at times. Frankly I've never grasped the mystical concepts Agor Singh promotes but it provides a unique method for the killer to operate with. Fortunately Singh is there to wrap everything up with a bow for any confused spectators before the fade out. The script unfortunately runs into considerable trouble with the depiction of Laurie (Leif Erickson), the Ingston chauffeur. Most likely intended as a glib skirt-chaser Laurie emerges today as a thwarted rapist and may temper a modern viewer's assessment of the overall film. Another issue comes with the character of Agor Singh who knows who the killer is from the second he sashays through the gates but prefers to wait for 5 more murders to occur before acting on this knowledge.
Director Beebe does a stellar job concocting the look of his film with abundant use of shadows, low lighting, and endless fog. He does go a bit overboard with the bombastic musical cues that emphasize every dramatic moment but the familiar strains from The Wolf Man, Ghost of Frankenstein, and others are always a welcome auditory experience. Beebe goes a step further in the sound department by employing croaking frogs during the nighttime scenes whose utterances stop on a dime whenever the killer is lurking about. A very nice touch. The film is also a treasure trove of backlot locations that have graced the screen in many a Universal thriller; notably the Ingston main gate, the main foyer of the Ingston home, the mansion hallways, and the train station.
Remarkably this is only the second (and last) time Bela Lugosi would be top billed in a Universal feature film and quite a shame it didn't result in a better role. Rolf the butler exists mainly as a diversion and possible culprit; Lugosi endows the underwritten character with a haughty quality that spices up his rather nondescript part. He's also a bit on the squeamish side when it comes to blood which is also a nice subversive touch Thoroughly wasted on the other hand is Lionel Atwill as Doctor King which is puzzling to say the least. He's even the first to get bumped off and is gone from the story after 29 minutes. Atwill gives one of his stock, pompous performances that is so unique to the performer. Inhabiting the most mysterious role of Agor Singh is Nils Asther who is convincing enough but it is impossible not to contemplate why Lugosi wasn't given this role. Cast as the ostensible romantic leads are Don Porter and Irene Hervey; two thespians who aren't required to do much and are up to the task.
The rest of the ensemble is peppered with many familiar Universal faces. Frank Morgan cops the pivotal role of Kurt Ingston and imbues minimal subtlety into the part while embracing his opportunities to inject a touch of the ominous with many of his line readings (as with Lugosi we are left to ponder the possibilities of Atwill being cast as Ingston). Selected rather improbably to portray his sister is Fay Helm who flexes her underrated acting muscles to give arguably the movie's best performance. After portraying Miss Helm's grieving mother in The Wolf Man Doris Lloyd transitions into her oppressor as the Mrs Danvers-style housekeeper Miss Judd. Fresh off terrorizing Lou Costello in Pardon My Sarong (and being hysterically funny doing it) is Leif Erickson as the degenerate Laurie. He seems determined to sexually assault every female cast member in a role that has aged horribly. Frank Reicher does a swell job as the contrite Dr. Timmons; a man full of regret and in direct contrast to his imperious colleague Dr. King. One breath of fresh air in a moldy premise is the spunky Janet Shaw who was famously pursued by Alfred Hitchcock during the making of this film for a role in the Master's current project, Shadow of a Doubt. Miss Shaw and Reicher share the distinction of appearing in both this and The Mummy's Tomb which shared a double bill with Night Monster.
With an impressive death toll, a few well-staged murder scenes, and an eerie atmosphere Night Monster emerges as a surprisingly compelling thriller. Certainly more care and attention to detail are present in this endeavor than most of the assembly line chillers being turned out by Universal at this time. The studio's decision to promote Lugosi and Atwill as the stars while shunning them into the backround is confounding; why they weren't given better roles is anyone's guess. However, it is a testament to how good the film is that one can get over the big guns being sidelined and enjoy the ride.
Not Creepy In This Day-And-Age
ccthemovieman-127 February 2008
Thinking this was a horror movie (billed as such) and starring guys like Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill, I wound up disappointed.....even more so because this movie started off pretty well and had promise. However, that "promise" was never delivered. There wasn't enough suspense or action to keep my interesting after the first hour. It got way too talky for what it should have been.
Fans of the two guys mentioned above will be very disappointed. Lugosi plays the butler and does very little and Atwill literally disappears halfway through. Yet, both men got pretty good billing on the opening credits. It's misleading.
The story isn't bad but, outside of some good sound effects like the frogs and the crickets, is not the creepy movie it's advertised as being. Maybe in 1942 this creeped out audiences, but it wouldn't today. Then again, I only saw this movie when it was on TV and commercials were continually interrupting things. That's a big reason I don't even watch TV shows any more unless they are on DVD. Perhaps if this film ever comes out on disc, I'd give it another shot.
Fans of the two guys mentioned above will be very disappointed. Lugosi plays the butler and does very little and Atwill literally disappears halfway through. Yet, both men got pretty good billing on the opening credits. It's misleading.
The story isn't bad but, outside of some good sound effects like the frogs and the crickets, is not the creepy movie it's advertised as being. Maybe in 1942 this creeped out audiences, but it wouldn't today. Then again, I only saw this movie when it was on TV and commercials were continually interrupting things. That's a big reason I don't even watch TV shows any more unless they are on DVD. Perhaps if this film ever comes out on disc, I'd give it another shot.
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