The Corpse Vanishes (1942)

A scientist, aided by an old hag & her two sons - a malicious dwarf and a brutish moron, kills virgin brides, steals their bodies, & extracts gland fluid to keep his ancient wife alive and young.

Director:

Wallace Fox

Writers:

Sam Robins (original story), Gerald Schnitzer (original story),

Stars:

Bela Lugosi, Luana Walters, Tristram Coffin

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bela Lugosi	...	Dr. George Lorenz
Luana Walters	...	Patricia Hunter
Tristram Coffin	...	Dr. Foster (as Tris Coffin)
Elizabeth Russell	...	Countess Lorenz
Minerva Urecal	...	Fagah
Angelo Rossitto	...	Toby (as Angelo)
Joan Barclay	...	Alice Wentworth
Kenneth Harlan	...	Editor Keenan
Gwen Kenyon	...	Peggy Woods
Vince Barnett	...	Sandy
Frank Moran	...	Angel
George Eldredge	...	Mike (as George Eldridge)

Storyline

Dr. Lorenz, a mad scientist, wants to keep his elderly wife young. He does this by kidnapping young females and extracting fluid from them. He then injects this fluid into his wife. What a diabolical guy!

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Plot Keywords:

mad scientist | orchid | bride | dwarf | coffin | 

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Taglines:

Keeper of the Grotto of Torture!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 May 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

A hulla eltűnik

Company Credits

Production Co:

Banner Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed 13 March - 1 April, 1942, the fourth of Bela Lugosi's nine Monogram features.

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Goofs

When getting ready for bed, Pat unbuttons her jacket, but in the next shot the jacket is buttoned again and stays buttoned for the rest of the scene - because she changed her mind about going to bed.

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Quotes

Fagah: Why do you beat my son so hard?
Dr. Lorenz: Because he's at best an animal, and some day I shall have to destroy him.
Fagah: My poor son!... Why was he ever born?

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Connections

Featured in Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula (1997)

User Reviews

Weird Story With Bizarre Characters

After the death of many brides in their weddings and disappearance of their corpses, the snoopy journalist Patricia Hunter (Luana Walters) notes that all of them were wearing an orchid in their breasts. She finds that the hybridization of the orchid was made by Dr. Lorenz (Bela Lugosi), and she decides to interview him about the flowers. She hitchhikes on the road with Dr. Foster (Tristam Coffin) and they are hosted by Dr. Lorenz in his isolated house. Dr. Lorenz is indeed a mad scientist that sleeps with his wife in coffins, and with the assistance of a dwarf and his strong retarded brother, extract gland fluids from the neck of the abducted virgins to keep his elder wife young.

"The Corpse Vanishes" is a weird story with very bizarre characters. The lighting and shadows are excellent, slightly recalling the German expressionism. The odd face of Bela Lugosi seems to be tailored to the role of the evil scientist. The DVD released in Brazil by Fantasy distributor has the image full of interferences, as if it were a low quality broadcast image. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "O Cadáver Desaparecido" ("The Vanished Corpse")