What happens is... A gang of racketeers frames down-on-his-luck pianist, John Ellman, for a murder they commit. When he's found guilty after the trial, evidence is discovered that proves his innocence. The phone call to save his life is late and Ellman is already dead. Then, a famous doctor wants to use an experimental procedure to restore him to life, after all, he was innocent! With shades of FRANKENSTEIN!
The pedestrian music is the result of music department work by Leo F. Forbstein and Bernhard Kaun. Get this, Forbstein has 597 Music Department credits, the last one was in 1949! He must have worked on just about everything up til then. Kaun had 126 composing credits and did the musical cues for this movie. Awrat then, les' bring in our littlest Dungeon Helper, and all around good guy, Rufus The Gnat! He's here for one reason, and one reason only... To push that big red 'GO' button waaaaay over there, and start our Eariffic Earclip for... THE WALKING DEAD!
When crooks have too much time on their hands... Here's Ricardo Cortez as Nolan, he's working on a plan for them to get away with a murder!
Barton MacLane, as Loder, plays hardball with Ellman to make things seem more desperate than they really are, because, they need him a lot more than he needs them.
Of course, Ellman is the main suspect because a judge that convicted him was the murder victim!
Ellman's face and the newspaper headline sez it all...
It's finally time for him to go the execution chamber where he'll be electrocuted to death. An inmate plays a live cello dirge for him as he's taken there, you can hear a bit of it in the soundclip.
The phone call from the governor to stop the execution comes a minute too late...
Ellman's body is turned over to the famous Dr. Evan Beaumont, played by Edmund (Kris Kringle) Gwenn, in an effort to bring him back to life. A modern day Frankenstein, you might say!
With just a little imagination you can definitely see that WB was trying to take advantage of the Universal Frankenstein monster!
You call this living?.. I thought I was supposed to be able to walk!
Very cool x-ray!
Ellman is still able to play the piano, and, he gets a recital!
At the recital, the dirty rats are in the audience, and Ellman gives them the evil eye. Remember, he's been there and back, who knows what he's capable of! The boys feel like they're burnin' in the hotseat! Nolan thinks about grabbing the Preparation H!
First, Loder get a little visit from Ellman and learns that bullets can't stop him...
Okay, honestly, what does this remind you of?
Then, another crook get his just desserts, a nice fall from a 10 story apartment window.
In the end, Ellman is pronounced dead for a second time...Tune in next Mondo Monday wif' Tabonga for another Karloff Klassic, THE DEVIL COMMANDS!
Ghoulnight Everbloody!!
2 comments:
my fav scene in that movie was the recital. all the bad guys squirming was PRICELESS. loved this movie. and yes it does evoke lots of Frankenstein images! what is it they say about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery? LOL
The music pice is also done with orchestra in "Te Scarlet Empress" with Marlene Dietrich.
Post a Comment