The Corpse Vanishes (1942)

Truly Dreadful Film

Sorry, this movie sucks

As Good As It Gets

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Bela Lugosi (Dr Lorenz), Luana Walters (Patricia Hunter), Tris Coffin (Dr Foster), Kenneth Harlan (editor), Vince Barnett (Sandy), Elizabeth Russell (Countess Lorenz), Minerva Urecal (Fagah), Angelo Rossitto (Toby), Joan Barclay (Alice Wentworth), Gwen Kenton (Peggy Woods), Frank Moran (Angel), George Eldredge (Mike), Gladys Faye (Mrs Wentworth), Eddie Kane (district attorney), Murdock MacQuarrie (minister), Frank O'Connor (policeman).Director: WALLACE FOX. Screenplay: Harvey Gates. Story: Gerald Schnitzer, Sam Robins. Photography: Arthur Reed. Release prints processed in sepia. Film editor: Robert Golden. Art director: Dave Milton. Music directors: Johnny Lange and Lew Porter. Production manager: Ed W. Rote. Assistant director: Arthur Hammond. Sound recording; Glen Glenn. Associate producer: Barney Sarecky. Producers: Sam Katzman, Jack Dietz.Copyright 8 May 1942 by Monogram Pictures Corp. U.S. release: 8 May 1942. No recorded New York opening. 7 reels. 64 minutes. Alternative title: Case of the Missing Brides.COMMENT: This really silly story about a mad scientist who extracts the blood of virgin brides to keep his wife young, is given a bit of life and vitality through the sterling efforts of some of its players and by Wallace Fox's occasionally slick direction. The players who come to the rescue of the script are led by the lovely Luana Walters, the surprisingly personable Tris Coffin (as the hero, no less), ever-reliable Kenneth Harlan and the fascinating Angelo Rossitto (who actually has a few words of dialogue). I have exclude Mr Lugosi who can play this sort of role standing on his head. Somehow the film's strained production values seem to match his waning charisma.

With having had a fun time watch a number of Horror movies starring Bela Lugosi for the 2013 Horror Challenge on IMDb's Horror board,I decided to take a look at a box set which had been sent from a very kind IMDber.Looking at the titles,I was delighted to see that I would get the chance to have a double dose of Bela.The plot:Desperate to keep his 70 year old wife looking youthful, Dr. George Lorenz decides to send orchids to about to be married women,which thanks to containing a chemical,causes the women to faint,and leads to Lorenz kidnapping them,so that he can get their spinal fluid for his wife.As Lorenz's kidnapping spree grows,local reporter Patricia Hunter decides to track down the missing women.Getting hold of the orchid from the latest victim,Hunter discovers that the only expert on orchids in the town is a man called Dr.George Lorenz.View on the film:For the screenplay of the movie,writers Sam Robins, Gerald Schnitzer and Harvey Gates disappointingly never give even the slightest reason for Lorenz desperate desire of keeping his wife looking youthful,which leads to the plot feeling rather disjointed.Shooting on a low budget,director Wallace Fox gives Lorenz house /mansion a chilly,low-lit appearance. Angelo Rossitto and Bela Lugosi's team up allows for a great crossing over of Tod Brownings Freaks and Dracula to take place,as Lugosi shows in his icy stare,a lust to turn every blushing bride in the town into a corpse.

The central mystery of "The Corpse Vanishes" hinges on who is stealing the corpses of brides who unexpectedly drop dead immediately after saying "I do." The deeper mystery is why the brains of all the characters have vanished.You would think that with a string of keeled-over brides, the police, or at least the public health officials, would be trying to figure out why a bunch of young, healthy women are kicking the bucket when they should be kissing the groom. Likewise, it seems that this is the angle the newspapers would be investigating. Instead, the focus is on who is stealing the bodies. "The murderer" is the most obvious answer.Of course, with all these dead brides, one would expect the wedding business to go into a bit of a slump -- or for armed security at weddings to suddenly come into vogue. But no! Weddings go on as usual, with nobody so much as babysitting the corpse to keep it from being misappropriated.From such a foundation, you can easily imagine how inexplicable the characters' behavior remains throughout. I won't spoil the fun by providing examples, lest you, dear reader, wish to enjoy "The Corpse Vanishes" on MSTTK.

This low-budget cheapy is from the days when Bela was pretty hard up for roles, but it has a certain charm. The basic plot is that Lugosi is a mad scientist with an aging wife whose beauty he is determined to preserve forever. Apparently, the way to do this is by extracting some chemical from young women that makes them beautiful. The height of discretion, Bela decides to kidnap brides at the altar – because it's easy to find them, I guess, when they are the center of attention and surrounded by people. His clever plan is challenged by a young go-getting female reporter who seems just as interested in using her job to secure a doctor for a husband as in solving the case, her comedy-relief photographer buddy, and the inevitable bland love interest. Luckily, Lugosi has a dysfunctional degenerate white trash family to help him out, and he hires street people to distract the police. Great movie making ,this is not, but it is good for some fun.