The Black Room (1935)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Powerful

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Crappy film

Part period melodrama, part Gothic horror, and altogether one of the great sleepers of the 1930's, "The Black Room" tells the story of the prophecy of how a great family will end its days as it started, with one brother killing the other. Boris Karloff plays a double role here, twins doomed to destruction, but not as the family journal has described the dynasty to be predicted to end. There's a lot of irony here, and in just over an hour, the writers put together a clever and tricky plot which will keep you riveted to your screen.O.K., so Karloff looks much older than the characters are supposed to be, but if you can overlook that, you will be o.k. in watching the evil Karloff planning to wed sweet and innocent Marian Marsh while his jealous mistress Katherine de Mille screeches threats that you know will make her a victim of his wrath. Karloff, in fact, plays a Tod Slaughter type role here, the typical power-hungry baron who utilizes his position to bed the innocent maidens and evilly dispatch of them so they can't tell. Then, there's the good Karloff, a cripple who was sent away because the family prophecy stated that he would end up killing the older brother. They sort of reminded me of "All My Children's" Stuart and Adam, twin brothers who were complete opposites and tied together through many tragic circumstances.A lavish production makes this "B" film look gorgeous, and Karloff eats up the scenery, whether taking care of De Mille, his own twin, his father-in-law to be (Thurston Hall) and the man whom Marsh really is in love with. The film moves at a fast and furious pace, and the end literally will have you going to the dogs as it is a clever canine who gets to steal Karloff's thunder at the end and bring the film to a speedy conclusion. This is by far the best of Karloff's Columbia films (four of them released on one DVD set) and is one which deserves to find cult status.

Boris Karloff is reason enough to watch any film that features him. After hearing much about his performance here, that it was one of his best, I knew I wanted to see The Black Room. And I'm glad I did. The supporting cast are only competent, with only the alluring Marian Marsh making a really good impression, mainly because of some bad accents and also because the characters don't get enough time to shine properly. I also think the film could have been a tad longer. However, The Black Room is a handsome-looking film, with suitably Gothic production values and crisp photography. There's a haunting- but never too obvious- music score, as well as solid direction and scripting. The story is tautly written and moves quickly. It is admittedly standard in basic concept, but it is always involving and suspenseful, I did like that the debauchery, torture and sadism was largely implied than shown as it did add to the suspense factor and the ending is splendidly ironic. But The Black Room is worth noting primarily for the performance of Boris Karloff. His dual role as two brothers called for a hateful and sympathetic side, two sides that Karloff in one of his best performances brings across brilliantly. Overall, a very good film with a truly great lead performance. 8/10 Bethany Cox

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 ****

The Black Room was released during a golden period of horror; and as such has been largely forgotten with the Frankenstein and Dracula films remaining enduringly popular. I suppose the problem is that it doesn't really fit into any genre; there's not quite enough horror for it to be considered a horror film, and while it has a period setting; it's not exactly a historical drama either. However, that for me is what makes it interesting; there wasn't another film like this one made around the same time, making The Black Room somewhat unique. As a side note, I also believe this to be an influence for the classic Giallo The Red Queen Kills Seven Times. The story focuses on the birth of twin brothers. This is bad news for the family concerned - wealthy barons - as legend has it that the younger brother will kill the older inside 'the black room' as happened many years earlier. They decide to have the black room sealed up and the brothers grow up. The older is left in charge of people in his consistency, and cuts an unpopular figure. He then calls his brother back to their home, apparently to help him run his affairs.The most memorable thing about the film is undoubtedly the dual role for Boris Karloff. He plays the role of the brothers very well and since both are so different, he is really able to show what a great performer he was. This really is Boris Karloff's film; and one of his characters is featured in almost every scene. Of course, this film was made before the age of computer effects; so naturally it was rather more difficult then to have both characters on screen together. Director Roy William Neill handles this very well, however; it's always obvious how it's done, but through sleight of hand; the director manages to give the appearance that they're both on screen at the same time. It has to be said that the first half of the film is a bit slow; but it soon picks up and the second half is really very interesting. The atmosphere is really good too; the director creates a thick Gothic feel for the film that really benefits it; the few scenes taking place in a graveyard are a particular highlight, as is the title location; 'the black room'. Overall, this is a very good little film and well worth the effort of tracking down.