Yet another movie that has fallen prey to poor copies
released by numerous companies since it fell into public domain titles is saved
by The Film Detective. While perhaps not the greatest film ever made it does
offer an evening’s worth of entertainment that all ages can watch leaving
children with a bit of dread and adults with a chuckle or two.
Agnes Moorehead, just before her stint as Endora in the
popular TV series BEWITCHED, stars as mystery writer Cornelia van Gorder who
has just rented a country home known as The Oaks in a small town where her
celebrity status is well known. Her constant companion Lizzie tells her that
the house is supposed to be filled with mystery, enough so that the servants
eventually all leave save two. At the same time a local killer has returned to
wreak havoc on the town, a killer who leaves no trace and is known only as The
Bat.
While this is going on the local bank president has gone on
a hunting trip with his trusted friend Dr. Malcolm Wells (Vincent Price). There
he reveals that he is responsible for embezzling $1 million dollars from the
bank and is willing to split it with Wells if he will simply help him with
killing a local guide and passing the body off as his own. Apparently Wells isn’t
as good a friend as he thinks since he kills him first but not before finding
out with certainty where the money is hidden in his home, The Oaks.
After returning home Wells is contacted when Lizzie is
bitten by an actual bat inside of the house and fearful she might get “the
rabies”. This gives Wells an excuse to visit the house and perhaps a chance to
find the hidden stolen loot. But his plans go wrong when The Bat himself, the
person responsible for releasing the actual bat into the house, continues to
visit the home as well.
Local police chief Lt. Any Anderson is called out and sets
up an officer to keep an eye on the house. The Bat eluded him once before and
he doesn’t intend to let him slip through his fingers again. The suspects are
plentiful from Wells to the house’s chauffer turned butler Warner. The clues
are there but never certain enough to identify just who The Bat is and why he’s
returned. All comes to a finale when Cornelia invites over several friends to
help her piece the puzzle together. But can they survive another night of The
Bat?
Based on the novel THE CIRCULAR STAIRCASE by mystery writer
Mary Roberts Rinehart, this was the fourth time the book had been adapted for
the screen. The film itself is definitely of the low budget variety and every
scene is definitely shot on soundstages, including outdoor sequences. There is
little doubt in my mind that many of the sets used in this film weren’t made
just for this movie but probably reused in countless other films as well.
Perhaps what makes this movie stand out is the caliber of
the actors involved here. Price had played as a leading man in many films prior
to his stint as horror film icon. This was made just after his turns in THE
FLY, THE TINGLER and THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL but before his memorable
performances in the Roger Corman Edgar Allan Poe films. Moorhead had begun as
an actress in the Orson Welles films like CITIZEN KANE and THE MAGNIFICENT
AMBERSON before a long career in series television. Both add to the production
here.
While a bit over the top in some ways the film does offer a
solid mystery to be solved and one that isn’t quite so obvious in its
conclusion. To my knowledge it is also the first time the film has been offered
on blu-ray. The Film Detective has once more brought forth the best quality
print possible of the film and offered it without extras to get in the way. Instead
you find yourself with a fun movie that will entertain while seeming silly in
other ways. But if you put that aside and take the movie in on its own terms
you’re bound to have a good time.
Click here to order.
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