THE BLACK ROOM boasts one of Boris Karloff's finest triumphs as an actor. It's a period piece set in 1834 Budapest, with Karloff in an excellent dual performance as a pair of identical twin brothers. Ever since they were born to the house of Berghman, a terrible curse has hung over both their heads ... it has been declared through an old prophecy that the younger brother will murder the older in what is known in the castle as "The Black Room". Upon the death of their father, the youngest brother, Anton, tries to avoid the dreaded prophecy by leaving Hungary for twenty years while the older, Gregor, stays on and becomes the new baron. But as a ruler, Gregor is an evil tyrant who is hated and feared by the peasants whom he abuses.
When it appears that the people may take the law into their own hands and dispose of him, Gregor invites his younger brother Anton back home, and Colonel Hassle (Thurston Hall) accompanies Anton to the baron's castle. Anton is by contrast the complete opposite of his wicked sibling, a kindly gentleman by nature, despite the burden of being born with a paralyzed right arm. Unbeknownst to Anton, Gregor has sinister intentions planned, and part of his scheme is to make the colonel's lovely niece (played by SVENGALI's Marian Marsh) marry him. With poignant music, a magnificent double (actually triple!) performance from Boris, as well as a strong directing job by Roy William Neill, this is an exceptional film which stands up to the very best work Karloff did over at Universal from this period. This is a movie not to be overlooked if you're a fan of Boris Karloff. ***1/2 out of ****
When it appears that the people may take the law into their own hands and dispose of him, Gregor invites his younger brother Anton back home, and Colonel Hassle (Thurston Hall) accompanies Anton to the baron's castle. Anton is by contrast the complete opposite of his wicked sibling, a kindly gentleman by nature, despite the burden of being born with a paralyzed right arm. Unbeknownst to Anton, Gregor has sinister intentions planned, and part of his scheme is to make the colonel's lovely niece (played by SVENGALI's Marian Marsh) marry him. With poignant music, a magnificent double (actually triple!) performance from Boris, as well as a strong directing job by Roy William Neill, this is an exceptional film which stands up to the very best work Karloff did over at Universal from this period. This is a movie not to be overlooked if you're a fan of Boris Karloff. ***1/2 out of ****