The Old Dark House

(1932) ****

Philip and Margaret Waverton, and their friend Roger get stranded while traveling due to a severe storm. They find shelter by way of a mansion occupied by some very odd characters. The house owner Horace Femm, his mute and brutish butler Morgan, his deaf sister Rebecca and two others whom we meet a bit later. Shortly after their arrival another couple, also stranded arrive at the mansion. Enter Sir William Porterhouse and his wild sexy mistress Gladys Perkins. That's the set up and what an interesting night it is. This cast of characters will go through a series of crazy, sometimes scary and emotional happenings as the night goes on. I must surely thank JPX for posting a clip from this picture pre Horrorthon. I immediately put it on my must watch list and I was not disappointed in the least. When you settle in to watch The Old Dark House, prepare to be entertained. The cast of characters are fantastic, this must truly have been a pivotal role for Karloff. It certainly shows his diversity. He is nearly unrecognizable in his wolf like make up to the point of their being a forward note from the producer about him before the film. 'Karloff, the mad butler in this production, is the same Karloff who created the part of the mechanical monster in "Frankenstein". We explain this to settle all disputes in advance, even though such disputes are a tribute to his great versatility.' Thanks again JPX, I thoroughly enjoyed it.