The Bat (1926)

Director:

Roland West

Writers:

Avery Hopwood (play)
Julien Josephson
(more)

Release Date:

16 May 1927 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

A laugh with every gasp!

Plot:

A masked criminal who dresses like a giant bat terrorizes the guests at an old house rented by a mystery writer. |

Plot Keywords:

Bat | Animal In Title | Old Dark House | One Night | Revolver

Cast

George Beranger	...	Gideon Bell
Charles Herzinger	...	Courleigh Fleming
Emily Fitzroy	...	Miss Cornelia Van Gorder
Louise Fazenda	...	Lizzie Allen
Arthur Housman	...	Richard Fleming (as Arthur Houseman)
Robert McKim	...	Dr. Wells
Jack Pickford	...	Brooks Bailey
Jewel Carmen	...	Miss Dale Ogden
Sôjin	...	Billy - the Butler (as Kamiyama Sojin)
Tullio Carminati	...	Detective Moletti
Eddie Gribbon	...	Detective Anderson
Lee Shumway	...	The Unknown

Directed by
Roland West

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Avery Hopwood		play "The Bat"
Julien Josephson
George Marion Jr.		titles
Mary Roberts Rinehart		play "The Bat"
Roland West		adaptation

Produced by
Roland West	....	producer

Cinematography by
Arthur Edeson
Gregg Toland

Film Editing by
Hal C. Kern

Set Decoration by
William Cameron Menzies		(settings)

Other crew
Frank Hall Crane	....	assistant on production
Thornton Freeland	....	assistant on production
Hal C. Kern	....	assistant on production
Ned Mann	....	assistant on production (as Ned Herbert Mann)

Production Companies

• Roland West Productions (for)
• Feature Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1926) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• E-Realbiz.com (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Sinister Cinema (2002) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• Sinister Cinema (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Sinister Cinema (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Triton Media Group (2000) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Roland West Productions

Trivia:

This film was highly regarded for its visuals, especially for its cinematography, elaborate sets and special effects. Roland West could only top it by remaking it four years later as The Bat Whispers (1930) with sound and in an early 70mm process.

Quotes:

Lizzie Allen:That Jap butler gives me the willies. The Flemings through him in with the lease, but I'd throw him OUT!

Movie Connections:

Version of The Bat Whispers (1930)

Come Fly With Me

An outstanding picture in so many ways. Based on the play by Mary Roberts Rhinehart, The Bat tells the story of a master criminal who tries to scare some people out of an old, dark house. The trouble is that there are other criminals afoot, and the story becomes a mystery as to who is hiding behind the mask(looking very much like the inspiration for Batman for a young Bob Kane). The acting is very good for this silent picture and first of several film adaptations of Rhinehart's work. Lousise Fazenda really steals much of her screen time as an easily frightened maid/companion. She uses her face to its limits whether it be for screaming or being childish. A real treat to watch. Emily Fitzroy is equally good in her role as a woman with a lot of smarts. The real star here though is Roland West, who takes parlour room material and turns it into something grandiose. The mood West creates is hypnotic. The camera shots he uses are phenomenal. West also is ably assisted by the tremendous sets employed by art director William Cameron Menzies. The house is awesome and the opening settings are just breath-taking.Another real plus here is the titles used throughout the film. they are informative, yet not too wordy. They help create, maintain, and sustain suspense throughout the picture. This is a craft not to be too easily belittled. The film was and is an absolute joy!