The Raven (1935)

A brilliant surgeon obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe saves the life of a beautiful dancer and goes mad when he can't have her.

Director:

Lew Landers (as Louis Friedlander)

Writers:

Edgar Allan Poe (poem), David Boehm (screenplay)

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lester Matthews

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Boris Karloff	...	Edmond Bateman (as Karloff)
Bela Lugosi	...	Dr. Richard Vollin
Lester Matthews	...	Dr. Jerry Halden (Credits) / Dr. Jerry Holden
Irene Ware	...	Jean Thatcher
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Judge Thatcher
Spencer Charters	...	Geoffrey (Credits) / Col. Bertram Grant
Inez Courtney	...	Mary Burns
Ian Wolfe	...	Col. Bertram Grant (Credits) / Geoffrey 'Pinky'
Maidel Turner	...	Harriet
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anne Darling	...	Autograph Hound (scenes deleted)
June Gittelson	...	Autograph Hound (scenes deleted)
Joe Haworth	...	Drug Clerk (scenes deleted)
Mary Wallace	...	Autograph Hound (scenes deleted)

Storyline

A wealthy judge coaxes the brilliant but eccentric neurological surgeon Dr. Vollin (Lugosi), who also has an obsessive penchant for Edgar Allen Poe, out of retirement to save the life of his daughter, a dancer crippled and brain damaged in an auto wreck. Vollin restores her completely, but also envisions her as his "Lenore," and cooks up a scheme to kidnap the woman and torture and kill her fiance' and father in his Poe-inspired dungeon. To do his dirty work, Vollin recruits a wanted criminal (Karloff), and turns him into a hideous monster to guarantee his subservience.

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Plot Keywords:

raven | brain damage | pendulum | car accident | torture den | 

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Taglines:

The uncanny master of make-up in a new amazing shocker

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Genres:

Crime | Horror

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 July 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Rabe

Filming Locations:

Stage 28, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$115,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

61 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to "The Immortal Count," the scene where Jerry is hanging in mid-air from the doorknob of Jean's room was laughed at by theater audiences at the premiere.

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Goofs

After Dr. Vollin regales his house guests on the subject of Edgar Allan Poe, all rise to retire. Jean Thatcher stops, returns to her former place on the couch, and has to free her gown from the cushion. This action causes her to be the last guest to leave the room, allowing her to have a private moment with Bateman. In their subsequent two-shot, she apologizes to him for having been startled earlier when he'd entered the room where she was fixing her hair.

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Quotes

Dr. Richard Vollin: Your monstrous ugliness breeds monstrous hatred. Good! I can use your hate.

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the film, The credits read: "A Good Cast Is Worth Repeating" (credits for the cast are also at the beginning of the film)

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Connections

Version of Der wilde Rabe (1985)

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Soundtracks

Sonata in B minor
Written by Franz Liszt
Arrangements by' Heinz Roemheld'
Played as background music

User Reviews

Lugosi is Incredible!

Karloff gets the top billing in this second feature pairing both horror stars, but it is Bela Lugosi all the way who steals each and every scene he is in. Lugosi is incredible in his over-the-top performance of a morbid, obsessed doctor and Poe aficionado. Each line he utters with flair and gusto, each movement an outrageous, maniacal gesture. He is truly a ham, and an enjoyable one at that. Karloff is quite good as a killer, and the only compassionate character in the story. He is disfigured by Lugosi, so he will kill for the mad doctor. One of the best scenes is Lugosi leaving his patient to see his handiwork. Karloff shoots through several mirrors after realizing the atrocities committed on him, and from a door in the roof of the room.....Lugosi peers through and laughs...laughs with coldness, cruelty, and hysteria. The rest of the film is devoted to Lugosi utilizing his Poe recreations of torture...and I must confess as an earlier reviewer noted that you really feel little sympathy for the other characters involved...and at one point I wanted the pendulum to win. You must see this film as it is the second best of the Karloff/Lugosi pairings...but it really is a Lugosi film.