The Darkish Eyes of London is a 1939 horror movie a few doctor who makes use of a disfigured man to homicide blind individuals.
The British film was directed by Walter Summers (Chamber of Horrors) from a screenplay co-written with Patrick Kirwan and producer John Argyle (as J.F. Argyle). Jan Van Lusil supplied extra dialogue. It’s an adaptation of the 1924 novel of the identical identify by Edgar Wallace. It was launched within the US as The Human Monster.
The John Argyle Productions film stars Bela Lugosi, Hugh Williams, Greta Gynt (Sexton Blake and the Hooded Terror), Edmon Ryan, Wilfred Walter and Alexander Discipline.
Plot:
In London, philanthropist Physician Orloff (Bela Lugosi) volunteers his companies at a house for blind males, which serves as a canopy for his infamous exploits. On the facet, Orloff runs an insurance coverage firm that provides loans to determined, unattached males, whom he convinces to listing him as a beneficiary.
With the help of a blind man from the house, Orloff then coldly murders the lads to gather the insurance coverage. Though the police start an investigation, Orloff openly continues the brutal killings…
Evaluations:
“For a 75 minute B-movie that relishes its ugly inventiveness, that is surprisingly efficient and stands up properly at the moment, each as a detective yarn and a horror flick.” Apocalypse Later
“The movie carries its nationalistic credentials on its sleeve, utilizing London because the backdrop for a collection of murders dedicated close to the River Thames. However the plot remains to be contrived in a method that introduces the American Lieutenant O’Reilly (Edmon Ryan) as early as doable, in an apparent nod to US audiences.” BFI Display screen On-line
“If typically simply foolish, that is nonetheless an entertaining film that often offers an actual shiver or two, and Lugosi is nice worth.” Derek Winnert
“That is fairly an attention-grabbing mystery-thriller with sturdy horror overtones.” Incredible Film Musings and Ramblings
“Bela Lugosi does his hammily contorted factor, evident at individuals with eyes vast open and leaving thick pauses in the midst of sentences, even whole phrases. The units are attention-grabbing, the dockland scenes convincing, leaving one uncertain whether or not they’re units or actual places. Nonetheless, The Darkish Eyes of London by no means quantities to greater than routine.” Moria
” …not solely is Wilfred Walter extra unglamorous than even Charles Laughton because the hunchback however is completely blind within the discount. Consequently, his homicidal approach is the extra deliberative and, so to talk, stately, giving the digital camera loads of time to dwell with sadistic relish on the extra recherché particulars of his methodology of doing his victims in.” The New York Occasions, March 25, 1940
“Some performances right here and there are a bit spotty, like a hilariously unhealthy drunk, however that seems to be intentional, and it does garner fun out of sheer ridiculousness […] The Human Monster is in no way good, however it’s acquired sufficient good in it to make up for any shortcomings. Lugosi delivers and proves on this final act why you don’t wanna mess with him!” Not This Time, Nayland Smith
“Seen for many years in poor public area dupes, the movie was ultimately restored and highlighted a really pleasant, shivery horror yarn that noticed its profile rise above its earlier dismissal, and will be really helpful on that stage.” The Spinning Picture
“There just a few standout moments, together with the scene the place Lugosi (heartlessly) destroys the listening to of 1 his blind accomplices – in order that the chap gained’t be capable to hear the questions posed by the police. However the very best a part of The Human Monster is its climactic finish scene: soiled – however good! – justice.” The Terror Lure
” …weirdly atmospheric, with good use manufactured from the Thames mudflats and a wonderfully macabre denouement involving two blind henchmen…” Time Out Movie Information
“Lugosi turns in certainly one of his greatest performances right here, managing to underplay his function (uncommon for him), thus balancing the extra contrived moments within the script. Actor Wilfrid Walter, who performs Lugosi’s grotesque, blind assistant Jake, helped create the efficient make-up for his character.” TV Information
“The character of Jake is a basic horror film henchman, giant and brutish, and the movie is – for the time – unexpectedly grim now and again, with the lifeless our bodies trying genuinely unsettling. Lugosi is on good kind, although a few of his lengthy, drawn-out sentences and intense stares into the digital camera are maybe overdone […] However that is amongst his greatest movies, one that also holds up surprisingly properly at the moment.” Warped Perspective
Blu-ray releases:
VCI Video launched a Collector’s Version Blu-ray of The Human Monster (US title) restored in 2K on October 29, 2019. Bonus options:
Intensive Poster and Photograph Gallery
Unique US Re-issue Theatrical Trailer
Archival Video ‘Intimate Interview with Bela Lugosi’
Liner Notes by movie historian Patrick McCabe
Commentary Observe by movie historian, creator and Bela Lugosi professional, Gary Don Rhodes
Commentary Observe by movie historian David del Valle and creator, screenwriter and monster child, Phoef Sutton
Purchase Collector’s Version Blu-ray from Amazon.com
In the meantime, The Darkish Eyes of London was launched on Blu-ray within the UK by Community on eleventh October 2021. Particular Options:
Model-new audio commentary with Kim Newman and Stephen Jones
Kim Newman and Stephen Jones talk about Lugosi’s work within the UK on the Edgar Wallace pub in London
US title sequence
US trailer
Picture gallery
Restricted version booklet by tutorial Adrian Smith (not the proprietor/editor of this website, Adrian J Smith)
Restricted version O-card (Blu-ray unique)
Restricted version poster postcards (Blu-ray unique)
Area code: B
Blu-ray evaluation:
The Darkish Eyes of London seems to be very good on this Community Blu-ray launch having been remastered from the destructive. After years of so many duff releases, this crime/horror movie will be totally appreciated as a fairly spectacular manufacturing, with keenly used close-ups and expressive lighting, regardless of its low finances and being shot at a tiny studio. A lot of the element – corresponding to backgrounds and even the feel of the actors’ outfits – beforehand unseen is now obvious.
Extras embrace an infectiously enjoyable and wonderfully detailed audio commentary by Kim Newman and Stephen Jones who’ve nice chemistry collectively. Their information of cinema of the period, all the casts’ careers and Edgar Wallace’s fiction provides actually provides worth to their properly comedic observations. Additionally they talk about censorship points, all of the totally different releases of the movie and subsequent German krimi takes on the identical novel. The pair additionally get collectively for a video additional shot within the Edgar Wallace pub in London to talk about Bela Lugosi’s appearances on this and different British movies.
The improve within the high quality of the movie and the pleasant extras make this Community Blu-ray properly price choosing up!
Adrian J Smith, MOVIES and MANIA
Purchase Community Blu-ray from Amazon.co.uk
Trailer:
Free to observe on YouTube:
Forged and characters:
Bela Lugosi … Physician Feodor Orloff
Hugh Williams … Detective Inspector Larry Holt
Greta Gynt … Diana Stuart
Edmon Ryan … Lieutenant Patrick O’Reilly
Wilfred Walter … Jake
Alexander Discipline … Fred Grogan
O.B. Clarence … Professor John Dearborn
Could Hallatt … Police Constable Griggs
Bryan Herbert … Police Sgt. Walsh
Arthur E. Owen … Dumb Lou
Charles Penrose … Morrison, an undercover detective
Gerald Pring … Henry Stuart
George Road … Commissioner, Scotland Yard
Julie Suedo … Orloff’s Secretary
Filming places:
Welwyn Studios, Welwyn Backyard Metropolis, Hertfordshire, England
Technical specs:
1 hour 13 minutes
Black and white
Audio: Mono
Side ratio: 1.37: 1
Theatrical launch:
Darkish Eyes of London was launched by Anglo Amalgamated Movie Distributors in November 1939 in Britain and have become the primary British movie to obtain the “H” score for “Horrific”.
The film was launched within the USA in 1940 by Monogram Photos as The Human Monster.
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