Night Monster (1942)

Kurt Ingston, 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 deaths.

Director:

Ford Beebe

Writer:

Clarence Upson Young

Stars:

Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Leif Erickson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bela Lugosi	...	Rolf
Lionel Atwill	...	Dr. King
Leif Erickson	...	Laurie (as Leif Erikson)
Irene Hervey	...	Dr. Lynn Harper
Ralph Morgan	...	Kurt Ingston
Don Porter	...	Dick Baldwin
Nils Asther	...	Agor Singh
Fay Helm	...	Margaret Ingston
Frank Reicher	...	Dr. Timmons
Doris Lloyd	...	Sarah Judd
Francis Pierlot	...	Dr. Phipps
Robert Homans	...	Constable Cap Beggs
Janet Shaw	...	Milly Carson
Eddy Waller	...	Jed Harmon
Cyril Delevanti	...	Torque

Storyline

Dr. Lynn Harper, psychologist, has been called out to the old Ingston Mansion, a dark and mysterious place with a very bad reputation, in order to make an assessment of the sanity of Margaret Ingston, daughter of patriarch Kurt Ingston. She claims to be sane, but she is clearly very disturbed; we can't be certain, although the doctor gives her a clean bill of health. But then Dick Baldwin shows up on the scene, just when Dr. Lynne has been receiving thinly veiled threats from the inhabitants of the house. He's our hero. Three medical doctors have been invited out to the mansion as well, Dr. Timmons, Dr. Phipps and the sleazy Dr. King (Lionel Atwill). One by one the doctors are mysteriously murdered. Dick Baldwin must figure out who is doing the killings, and he must do so before whoever it is can kill his new love interest, Dr. Lynne Harper. But the only one he can trust is Kurt Ingston himself, since Ingston has no legs and can't have perpetrated these murders. Is it sinister Rolf, ...

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Plot Keywords:

doctor | mansion | butler | swamp | murder | 

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Taglines:

What kind of a thing is it?

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

House of Mystery

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alfred Hitchcock attended a screening of this film, as he wanted to cast Janet Shaw in his Universal production, "Shadow of a Doubt, " thoroughly enjoyed it, and was amazed at how quickly it was shot, from July 5-18, 1942, to be released October 23, on a double bill with "The Mummy's Tomb. "

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Goofs

Dick's pipe when he and Dr Harker are driving to the mansion.

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Quotes

Dr. Lynne Harper: My study of the mind has convinced me how little we know of its powers.

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Connections

Featured in Son of Svengoolie: Night Monster (1942) (1979)

User Reviews

Best of the "B" Horror Films

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.