The Ghoul (1933)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

T. Hayes Hunter

Writers:

Rupert Downing (adaptation)
Leonard Hines (writer)

Release Date:

25 November 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

An Ancient Curse Is About To Be Unleashed.

Plot:

An Egyptologist returns from the dead to take revenge on those who have violated his tomb.

Plot Keywords:

Jewel | Arab | Professor | Eternal Life | Ghoul

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	Prof. Morlant
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Broughton
Ernest Thesiger	...	Laing
Dorothy Hyson	...	Betty Harlon
Anthony Bushell	...	Ralph Morlant
Kathleen Harrison	...	Kaney
Harold Huth	...	Aga Ben Dragore
D.A. Clarke-Smith	...	Mahmoud
Ralph Richardson	...	Nigel Hartley

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (British Acoustic)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1935) | Australia:PG | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating: 1996)

Filming Locations:

Lime Grove Studios, Lime Grove, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company:

Gaumont British Picture Corporation

Trivia:

For years this was regarded as a "lost film" with no prints or elements known to exist. A nitrate release print was discovered in the Czech National Archives in Prague. This print was a subtitled edited version that was in poor condition and contained numerous splices. Years later, a print of the uncut British version was finally discovered.

Goofs:

Continuity: Ralph backs up against a wall twice when Dragore comes in and draws a gun on him and Betty.

Quotes:

Broughton: Almost his last words were a threat to return from the dead. In my opinion, he was mad!

Movie Connections:

References The Sheik (1921)

Soundtrack:

Götterdämmerung

Old dark house mystery gets the royal British treatment...

The surprising thing about THE GHOUL is that it features an impressive background score for a film made in '33, when most soundtracks were almost completely devoid of music. This is something the other comments here failed to mention.

The other plus factor is the brilliant B&W photography done in Gothic style to suit the story elements here. An Egyptologist returns from the grave to take revenge on a servant who has stolen a sacred jewel. BORIS KARLOFF is the doctor with his own rules about how to offer sacrifices to Anubis in order to have eternal life.

The pace is slow and there's too much silly banter that features KATHLEEN HARRISON in a role designed to give the audience comedy relief. RALPH RICHARDSON is excellent as a cleric who seems to be a helpful visitor and ERNEST THESIGER is fine as the nervous servant.

The Gothic ambiance is strong with handsome interiors of a house in shadows and the flavor of an "old dark house mystery" is well sustained. Plotwise, there are loopholes and the story only really picks up once Karloff has returned from the grave.

For fans of this genre, this is an interesting film and Karloff's performance is first rate.