The Black Cat (1934)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1934
Running Times: 64 mins     65 mins     70 mins
Format: black and white     35mm
Ratio: 1.37:1
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Universal
Producer: Carl Laemmle Jr (uncredited)
Associate Producer: E.M. Asher

SCRIPT
Script: Peter Ruric
Screen Story: Edgar G. Ulmer, Peter Ruric
Short Story: Edgar Allan Poe
Additional Dialogue: Shirley Kassel

DIRECTION
Director: Edgar G. Ulmer
Assistant Director: William Reiger, Sam Rosenthal

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: John J. Mescall

EDITOR
Editor: Ray Curtiss

MUSIC
Music Director: Heinz Roemheld
Music: Heinz Roemhold; Franz Liszt (from Tasso, Piano sonata in B Minor, and Les Préludes); Shumann; Tchaikovsky; James Huntley (uncredited)
Orchestrator: Walter Schiller (uncredited)
Music Recording: Lawrence Aicholtz

SOUND
Sound Supervisor: Gilbert Kurland
Sound System: Western Electric

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Jack P. Pierce
Costumes: Edgar Ulmer, Vera West, Ed Ware

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: John P. Fulton
Camera Effects: David S. Horlsey
Special Photography: Jack Cosgrove (uncredited)
Matte Paintings: Jack Cosgrove, Russell Lawson
Stills: Roman Freulich (uncredited)

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: Charles D. Hall
Set Decorator: R.A. Gausman
Art Titles: Max Cohen

MISCELLANEOUS
Continuity: Tom Kilpatrick
Script Clerk: Moree Herring

CAST
Boris Karloff (Hjalamar Poelzig)
Bela Lugosi (Dr Vitus Verdegast)
David Manners (Peter Alison)
Jacqueline Wells (Joan Alison)
Egon Brecher (Majordomo)
Lucille Lund (Kaaren Verdegast Poelzig )
John Carradine (organist - uncredited)
Harry Cording (Thamal)
Paul Weigel (station master - uncredited)
Henry Armetta (Sergeant)
Albert Conti (lieutenant)
Anna Duncan (maid - uncredited)
André Cheron (conductor - uncredited)
George Davis (bus driver - uncredited)
Tony Marlow (border patrolman - uncredited)
Rodney Hildebrand (brakeman - uncredited)
Michael Mark, Paul Panzer, Symona Boniface (uncredited), Frazer Acosta, King Baggot, Louis January, Peggy Terry, Virginia Ainsworth, Duskal Blaine, Harry Walker (cultists)
Luis Alberni (train steward - uncredited)
Herman Bing (car steward - scene cut)
Alphonse Martell (porter - scene cut)
Albert Poulet (waiter - scene cut)
Lenore Kingston (scene cut)

A honeymooning couple, Joan and Peter Alison, and a doctor, Vitus Werdegast, find themselves stranded and seek refuge in the imposing home of satanic cult leader Hjalmar Poelzig. In World War I, Poelzig had betrayed Werdegast, leading to him being imprisoned, and Werdegast has been plotting his revenge, hoping that he will soon be reunited with the wife and daughter that Poelzig stole from him. Poelzig plans to sacrifice Joan in a ritual and its up to Werdegast to safe her and survive the bizarre games played by his rival...

One of the very best of the Karloff and Lugosi pairings, with both actors giving superb performances. The impressive set design, powerful direction from Edgar G. Ulmer and dark storyline ensure that it has aged better than most of its contemporaries.

USA
Theatrical Distributors: Universal Pictures; Realart Pictures Inc (1953 reissue)
Video Distributors: Media; MCA Home Video; Cinema Classics
Laserdisc Distributors: MCA Home Video

Australia
Rating: PG

Finland
Rating: banned in 1936

USA
Rating: unrated

1934
May
3: USA - theatrical premiere
19: USA - theatrical release

1938
USA - theatrical reissue

1953
USA - theatrical reissue

1986
USA - theatrical reissue

House of Doom - UK title
The Vanishing Body - re-release title

SEE ALSO
The Kiss of the Vampire (1963)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Scary Movie 2 (2001)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Head (1968)
Universal Horror (1998)

MAGAZINES

Expresso, Cartaz 6 November 1998
review (by Manuel Cintra Ferreira)

Expresso, Cartaz 28 November 1998
review (by Manuel Cintra Ferreira)

Filmfax 57 (October / November 1996) pp.31-32
illustrated review (by Bryan Senn)

BOOKS

Creature Features pp.43-44
review, credits

Hoffman's Guide to Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.44
review, credits

Horror and Science Fiction Films II p.33
credits

Human Monsters pp.57-62
article

Reference Guide to Fantastic Films p.36
review

Universal Horrors
article (by Michael Brunas, John Brunas and Tom Weaver

honeymoon couples, doctors, revenge, cults, human sacrifices

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009