Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Boris Karloff | ... | John Ellman | |
Ricardo Cortez | ... | Nolan | |
Edmund Gwenn | ... | Dr. Evan Beaumont | |
Marguerite Churchill | ... | Nancy | |
Warren Hull | ... | Jimmy | |
Barton MacLane | ... | Loder | |
Henry O'Neill | ... | District Attorney Werner | |
Joe King | ... | Judge Roger Shaw (as Joseph King) | |
Addison Richards | ... | Prison Warden | |
Paul Harvey | ... | Blackstone | |
Robert Strange | ... | Merritt | |
Joe Sawyer | ... | Trigger Smith (as Joseph Sawyer) | |
Eddie Acuff | ... | Betcha | |
Kenneth Harlan | ... | Stephen Martin | |
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Miki Morita | ... | Sako |
A gang of racketeers frames down-on-his-luck John Ellman for murder. After a trial finds him guilty, evidence is brought forth proving his innocence, but it is too late and he is executed anyway. A doctor sees an opportunity to use an experimental procedure to restore him to life but is that entirely possible? Desirable? Written by Ken Yousten <kyousten@bev.net>
This movie is enjoyable escapism. Karloff is framed and dies in the electric chair even as the Governor is trying to reach the warden to stop the execution because two witnesses have finally come forward who can prove Karloff's innocence. Edmund Gwenn plays a doctor who is able to immediately bring Karloff back to life (I told you it was escapism). Throughout the remainder of the film Karloff quietly confronts the men who framed him, including his crooked attorney. The manner in which the "bad-guys" get what's coming to them makes for an interesting story. Karloff plays his character as basically a gentle, soft spoken individual who seems more interested in finding out why he was framed than in extracting revenge. My only real criticism is that the classical music selection used throughout the film is overdone and tends to get on the nerves after awhile. It's a very dreary piece to start with and not the type of music to heighten the films' enjoyment. The point was made at least twice that it was the Karloff character's favorite musical piece. I promise that, after hearing it throughout the run of this film, it will not be yours'.