Night of Terror
| Night of Terror | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Benjamin Stoloff |
| Produced by | Bryan Foy |
| Written by |
Willard Mack Beatrice Van Lester Neilson William Jacobs |
| Starring |
Bela Lugosi Sally Blane Wallace Ford Tully Marshall |
| Cinematography | Joseph A. Valentine |
| Edited by | Arthur Hilton |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates | April 24, 1933 |
Running time | 61 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Night of Terror is a 1933 American Pre-Code horror film directed by Benjamin Stoloff, and starring Bela Lugosi, Sally Blane, Wallace Ford, and Tully Marshall. Despite receiving top billing, Bela Lugosi has a relatively small part.[1] The film is also known as He Lived to Kill and Terror in the Night.[2]
Plot
Police have been vainly searching the countryside for the knife-wielding Maniac, who has been on a murderous spree. The Maniac's victims are each found with a taunting newspaper clipping attached to their body. After the wealthy uncle of a young scientist is mysteriously murdered, people wonder if the Maniac is responsible.
Prior to his uncle's death, the young scientist in question, Dr. Arthur Hornsby, claimed to have developed a method of living without oxygen for extended periods. To prove his theory, he had himself buried after taking a dose of the serum. Despite his incapacity, the death of his uncle leaves a vast fortune, which is to be divided amongst his family members and servants. In the event that one or more them dies, the inheritance is split among the remaining survivors. Subsequently, members of the family begin to die, one-by-one, and suspicion is cast on the servants, including the "mystic" butler (Bela Lugosi).
At the end, we discover that Dr. Hornsby faked his burial and was using it as a cover for committing the murders. His plan was to kill any other heirs to his uncle's fortune so that he may obtain sole possession. His plan is eventually discovered and exposed by the butler. The Maniac is shot, and apparently killed, by the newspaper reporter, Tom Hartley; but in the closing moments of the film, he comes back to life and claims that he will haunt the audience if they reveal the plot twist to anyone.
Cast
- Bela Lugosi as Degar
- Sally Blane as Mary Rinehart
- Wallace Ford as Tom Hartley
- Tully Marshall as Richard Rinehart
- George Meeker as Arthur Hornsby
- Edwin Maxwell as The Maniac
- Gertrude Michael as Sarah Rinehart
- Bryant Washburn as John Rinehart
Production
In an attempt to bail himself out of debt, Bela Lugosi was working a heavy schedule, including the filming of International House by day and Night of Terror by night.[3]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Binion, Cavett. "Night of Terror". Allrovi. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
- ↑ "Night of Terror". American Film Institute. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ↑ Mank, Gregory William (2009). Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff: the expanded story of a haunting collaboration, with a complete filmography of their films together. McFarland & Company. p. 142. ISBN 0-7864-3480-5.
References
- Hardy, Phil, ed. (1995), The Overlook Film Encyclopedia 3, Overlook Press, ISBN 0-87951-624-0
- Senn, Bryan (1996), Golden horrors: an illustrated critical filmography of terror cinema, 1931-1939, McFarland & Company, p. 467, ISBN 0-7864-0175-3