The Old Dark House backdrop
The Old Dark House poster

THE OLD DARK HOUSE

1932 • US HMDB
October 20, 1932

In a remote region of Wales, five travelers beset by a relentless storm find shelter in an old mansion.

Directors

James Whale James Whale

Cast

Boris Karloff as Morgan

Boris Karloff

Morgan

 Melvyn Douglas as Penderel

Melvyn Douglas

Penderel

 Charles Laughton as Sir William Porterhouse

Charles Laughton

Sir William Porterhouse

 Lilian Bond as Gladys

Lilian Bond

Gladys

 Ernest Thesiger as Horace Femm

Ernest Thesiger

Horace Femm

 Eva Moore as Rebecca Femm

Eva Moore

Rebecca Femm

 Raymond Massey as Philip Waverton

Raymond Massey

Philip Waverton

 Gloria Stuart as Margaret Waverton

Gloria Stuart

Margaret Waverton

 Elspeth Dudgeon as Sir Roderick Femm

Elspeth Dudgeon

Sir Roderick Femm

 Brember Wills as Saul Femm

Brember Wills

Saul Femm
Dramma Horror Thriller
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Crew
Production: Carl Laemmle Jr. (Producer)
Screenplay: Benn W. Levy (Screenplay)
Music: David Broekman (Original Music Composer)
Cinematography: Arthur Edeson (Director of Photography)

REVIEWS (1)

Marco Castellini •
A group of people, due to a violent downpour, are forced to take refuge in an isolated and gloomy-looking house; the inhabitants of the house are also rather strange: there is a massive and semi-deformed butler and two elderly people, brother and sister, who seem to have lost their minds. But much more horrible are the secrets that house hides… One of the first films dedicated to "cursed houses" and also one of the first horrors in the history of cinema. Masterfully directed by James Whale and starring the icon of 1930s horror Boris Karloff (who appears in the role of the butler) "The old dark house" is certainly one of the best products of the horror filmography of those years. The use of dim lights (candles or small lights) and shadow play manage to infuse suspense into the film, if you add to this a series of mysterious and gloomy characters (the terrible butler Karloff, the old witch, the madman locked in the attic) you will understand why this film still manages to instill fear today. Worth rediscovering, even if quite difficult to find.
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COMMUNITY REVIEWS (2)

John Chard

John Chard

8 /10

Beware The Night.

As a violent storm rages, five travellers in a remote part of Wales take refuge at a creepy looking mansion that's home to the "odd" Femm family...

Weird, exciting and positively funny haunted house film with a top cast that's directed by one of Horror's greatest directors, James Whale. Based loosely around J.B. Priestley's novel "Benighted", the piece is further boosted by excellent camera work from Arthur Edeson and a screenplay that positively zips with memorable moments. Upon release in America the film was poorly received, yet unsurprisingly given it's British dryness, it was well liked in Britain. Even spawning an imitation in the form of The Ghoul, with both Boris Karloff and the irrepressible Ernest Thesiger again starring.

The Old Dark House got a reissue in the late 30s after the Horror genre had been reinvigorated by the likes of King Kong, but sadly it fell off the radar once the rights had reverted to Priestley. The film then appeared to be lost for many many years until Curtis Harrington (director of such TV Horror fare like Killer Bees) found a print in the archives in 1968, and thankfully got the funding to have the film restored and preserved. Thus now, and as far from perfect as the print is, the piece can be enjoyed by anyone with a bent for such a unique blend of Horror & Comedy.

You have to be prepared for its kooky nature to truly enjoy the experience, but all being well The Old Dark House will continue to garner new fans with each passing year. The supreme director and marvellous cast deserve that at least. 8/10

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

7 /10

James Whale really did put together an excellent cast for this comic horror film. On a foul night; five stranded travellers seek shelter in a creepy old Welsh manor house - occupied by the even creepier "Femm" family and their almost anthropoid servant "Morgan" (Boris Karloff). As the evening progresses, lots of drink is taken and we meet the servant's pyromaniac brother and mayhem ensues. There are super performances from Melvyn Douglas, Ernest Thesiger and Raymond Massey with Eva Moore as the horrid "Rebecca" and a fantastically over-the-top Charles Laughton as "Sir William Porterhouse". The sets are a bit on the basic side and the lighting could have done with some more wattage, but it is all eerily directed with a plenty of wit and charm - well worth a watch.

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