The Bat (1959)

A crazed killer known as "The Bat" is on the loose in a mansion full of people.

Director:

Crane Wilbur

Writers:

Crane Wilbur (screen story), Crane Wilbur (screenplay),

Stars:

Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Gavin Gordon

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Vincent Price	...	Dr. Malcolm Wells
Agnes Moorehead	...	Cornelia van Gorder
Gavin Gordon	...	Lt. Andy Anderson
John Sutton	...	Warner, the chauffeur
Lenita Lane	...	Lizzie Allen
Elaine Edwards	...	Dale Bailey
Darla Hood	...	Judy Hollander
John Bryant	...	Mark Fleming
Harvey Stephens	...	John Fleming
Mike Steele	...	Victor Bailey
Riza Royce	...	Jane Patterson
Robert Williams	...	Detective Davenport (as Robert B. Williams)

Storyline

Mystery writer Cornelia Van Gorder has rented a country house called "The Oaks", which not long ago had been the scene of some murders committed by a strange and violent criminal known as "The Bat". Meanwhile, the house's owner, bank president John Fleming, has recently embezzled one million dollars in securities, and has hidden the proceeds in the house, but he is killed before he can retrieve the money. Thus the lonely country house soon becomes the site of many mysterious and dangerous activities.

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Plot Keywords:

bat | mansion | bank | murder | mystery writer | 

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Taglines:

P.S. After seeing 'The Bat' 7 out of 8 people will get cold feet tonight!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 August 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

El murciélago

Company Credits

Production Co:

Liberty Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Her role as Judy became the final on-screen feature film role for former child star Darla Hood of Our Gang/Little Rascals fame.

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Goofs

The Bat uses a suction cup and a glass cutter to cut a hole in the glass in order to reach in and unlatch the door. The circular piece of glass attached to the suction cup is twice as thick as the glass from which the hole has been cut. The glass attached to the suction cup is also too thick to cut a hole in using a simple glass cutter.

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Quotes

Cornelia van Gorder: Relax, relax Lizzie the police did a good job, they couldn't find anybody in here.
Lizzie Allen: But we both saw him, Miss Cornelia!
Cornelia van Gorder: Allright, allright, so he got away, but there are men on guard outside, so just try to get some rest, there's nothing that can get us in here.
Lizzie Allen: Hmm...

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Connections

Featured in Horror Incorporated: The Bat (1959) (2003)

User Reviews

You can hide a million dollars but..."you can't hide a murder!"

Female mystery writer, renting a bad luck-ridden estate in the country, is terrorized by a serial killer nicknamed "The Bat" (who dons a black hat, black mask, and black gloves complete with sharp claws!). Seems our blood-thirsty fiend is after a million dollars pilfered from the local bank and believes the loot is hidden in the writer's house. "Who is it?" mystery with hilariously overripe dialogue, a frivolous, fluttery-nervous atmosphere, and a lack of logic at every turn. Director Crane Wilbur also penned the script, an adaptation of a stage play dating back to the 1920s. It gets by sheerly on the talent of its leads, Vincent Price (as a sinister doctor) and Agnes Moorehead (with her pithy delivery and incredulous expressions). Nifty opening theme music by Alvino Rey, crisp cinematography by Joseph Biroc. Tolerable. ** from ****