IMDb > The Bat (1959)
The Bat
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The Bat (1959) -- A crazed killer known as "The Bat" is on the loose in a mansion full of people.

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
5.8/10   1,110 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 22% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Avery Hopwood (novel) (play)
Mary Roberts Rinehart (novel) (play)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Bat on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 August 1959 (USA) more
Tagline:
When Someone SCREAMS ... It Will Be YOU! more
Plot:
A crazed killer known as "The Bat" is on the loose in a mansion full of people. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
Enjoyable murder mystery. more (48 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
80 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono | Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Canada:G (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:(Banned) (1961) | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #19363)

Fun Stuff

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. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: 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. more
Quotes:
Lt. Andy Anderson: [finding Judy dead] The Bat.
Cornelia van Gorder: Yes the Bat, he caught her at the head of the stairs. We saw him rushing down the stairs as we came out of our rooms. I hurled that
[a fireplace poker]
Cornelia van Gorder: at him, I hit him I believe. 'I'm going to cover this place from attic to basement' you said, well what were you covering out there while that poor child was murdered, where were you?
Lt. Andy Anderson: I saw a man outside on the grounds. I went out and hunted him, I hunted him among the trees so far as the brook down near the back road, then I lost him. After that I'd give my own life than let this happen to Judy, but I told you to stay in your rooms and lock your doors and stay there! What was she doing at the head of those stairs?
Dale Bailey: That was my fault.
Cornelia van Gorder: They heard a strange noise, heavy pounding in one of the rooms on the third floor, we all heard it.
Dale Bailey: I wanted to see what it was, but Judy, she wouldn't let me go out there by myself,
[crying]
Dale Bailey: I made her stay on the balcony!
[...]
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Movie Connections:

FAQ

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11 out of 14 people found the following comment useful.
Enjoyable murder mystery., 7 April 2005
7/10
Author: ThrownMuse from The land of the Bunyips

Cornelia (Agnes Moorehead) is a mystery writer who temporarily moves into a mansion to attempt to get some work done. She later learns that the homeowner embezzled money and hid it in somewhere in the house. After he turns up dead, Cornelia and her houseguests find that someone knows about the money and will stop at nothing to get it. Could it be the notorious spikey-fingered murderer, "The Bat"?

This is a fun little mystery with a delicious performance by the always fabulous Agnes Moorehead. Vincent Price co-stars as the slightly creepy (of course!) town doctor. One of the most intriguing things about the movie is the refreshing treatment of the lead heroine. She has no love interest--something you don't see often in 50s horror movies. Her only reliance is upon her tough (and slightly butch!) maid, and her independence has garnered admiration by her female houseguests (one of which is played by Little Rascal Darla Hood).

Unfortunately, the movie doesn't really capitalize much on the potential of its "big creepy house with a claw-gloved murderer on the loose" premise, and seems to run out of fuel towards the end. Once the body count starts, the actors look like they couldn't care less. But overall, this is an enjoyable and often creepy mystery with terrific performances by Moorehead and Price.

My Rating: 6.5/10

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Giant bat in Dr. Wells' laboratory mlraymond
Remake of 'The Bat' did someone suggest? mikeadams110
Best print? bretw
Was this ever re-released in the 1980s??? boinnng
Love these types of movies......... argentinexport
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