Perfect cast and a good story

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

"They will give me the blood from their hearts as I destroy them!" That's the return from the grave statement that one of the two brothers which George Zucco plays almost immediately after his funeral. It wasn't a respectful send-off with a woman intruder invading the church to damn the congregation for having a church service for such an evil man. It turns out that the surviving brother was responsible for his own brother's death which he claims was necessary because indeed, his brother was evil. Now back for revenge, he's combination ghost and vampire, appearing and disappearing as well, and not giving his brother a moment of rest. The subject of the back from the dead brother's revenge is their own niece (Mary Carlisle) and in order to stop his brother from his unearthly revenge, the surviving brother utilizes his niece as the method to which he will destroy the undead for good. But Carlisle's fiancée (Nedrick Young) suspects that the surviving brother has his own reasons for keeping such a close eye on Carlisle and accuses him of setting the whole thing up!Zucco gives two completely different performances: one an obvious evil mad man, the other seemingly decent. What makes the tension in this so great is the fact that you don't know for sure if the "good" brother is indeed doing mankind a favor by taking the life of his own sibling. The dead Zucco has an Igor like hunchbacked assistant (Robert Strange) under his control (doesn't every madman?) who does his every bidding, while Fern Emmett plays a character obviously influenced by the screeching harpies played by Una O'Connor and the nosy neighbors played by Eily Malyon and Margaret Hamilton. Emmett, however, brings on an Evangelical theme into the film, first by invading the church during the opening scenes, and later in the near conclusion where she comes across the grave. A moody, atmospheric setting and cleverly slow pacing (which works in this case) sets this above many Z-grade shockers of the 1930's and 40's, although in the case of Zucco, he also scored with the same year's "The Black Raven" as well. When I first took an interest in the classic movies, I used to skip the ones for some reason I considered beneath me (anything which came from Monogram or PRC), but now that I've discovered them, I am fascinating even with the low budgets, cheap sets, sometimes dismal photography and theatrical acting that seems to have gone out with flame burning footlights and putting on melodramas in local barns. But in many cases, they are more entertaining than many of the classics we've come to cherish, and get to their point faster and with more action. Zucco always added an undercurrent of subtlety in his evil characters, and when the seemingly good ones did turn out to be evil, it was both a surprise and a prediction. "We were brothers, and there was a bond of hatred that was there between us for a lifetime", he states here, and you truly feel all the emotions that both men share. I am glad that modern day audiences have taken an interest in these and hopefully film preservation societies will put in the efforts into cleaning up these prints and retaining them for eternity. Even on the cheap, they are true pieces of art.

One of the most creaky, clumsy, talky Horror films of the forties. It talks and talks with pregnant pauses and one of worst acting performances by a lead ever seen on the screen. This Nedrick Young (the love interest) behaves like one of the walking dead.George Zucco is more odd looking than talented and is just about as stiff in all of his roles but here we get two for one. You know you are in trouble when virtually the only thing remotely interesting on screen is the hunchback, Dwight Frye who was also the original Renfield in Dracula (1931) and Fritz in the original Frankenstein (1932). These other films are included in this review just because this is such an empty, slow, inept, and stuffy entry in the low budget lexicon of Horror, that there is not much else to say.Except, the current prints available are so shoddy and the audio and visuals are so muddy that it makes it even more painful to watch than need be. Even with a pristine print it would be lifeless.

Low budget chiller directed by Sam Newfeld. Veteran actor George Zucco stars as twin brothers: Dr. Lloyd Clayton, a well respected physician, and Dr. Elwyn Clayton, who has been discretely pushed off a cliff because of his deep involvement in the occult sciences. Lloyd begins burning his brothers books on the dark arts knowing that Elwyn always despised him and wanted him discredited. Elwyn's faith in his occult studies enables him to come back to haunt Lloyd. Better yet, he sets out seeking revenge by sucking the blood of his pretty niece Gayle(Mary Carlisle). Just the visions of the walking dead Elwyn in this B&W horror flick is creepy. The short scenes in the graveyard are atmospheric deserving kudos for cinematographer Jack Greenhalgh. If you love the oldies, this will be 64 minutes of fun. Other players: Dwight Frye, Fern Emmett, Nedrick Young and Forrest Taylor.

George Zucco sinks his teeth into dual roles as good and evil twins, one a friendly town physician, Dr. Lloyd Clayton, and the other, occultist brother Elwyn who had discovered the power of vampirism while away in another country(..also known as a devil worshiper who studied and dabbled in sorcery). Accused of murdering his brother, by Elwyn's loyal assistant, Zolarr(Dwight Frye, yet playing another hunchbacked fiend), Lloyd is soon confronted by him after attacking a female victim within the town. Claiming revenge for being pushed off a cliff, Elwyn promises to ruin Lloyd's life, and starts by draining his beloved daughter, Gayle(Mary Carlisle)of her blood. Gayle, slowly dying due to anemia, Lloyd starts debating his sanity, and soon accepts, despite common logic dictating otherwise, that Elwyn is in fact a vampire, and must convince his daughter's fiancé, David(Nedrick Young)as well. As more people are killed(..such as local snoop, Kate(Fern Emmett), considered the superstitious town loony, who stumbles onto Elwyn's hiding place and is executed by Zolarr), the town hicks become restless and scared, forming a mob that will accuse Lloyd of committing the deeds after overhearing David's threats towards him to the sheriff(Hal Price), considering him the one responsible for Gayle's weakening and deteriorating state. But, when David himself sees Elwyn, returning to antagonize his brother Lloyd, they set out a plan to stop him and Zolarr of their conniving evil schemes to endanger innocents. Lloyd faces insurmountable odds as the town mob set out to find him while he searches for Elwyn's lair, also confronting Zolarr in a climactic battle of good vs. evil.Zucco and Frye are the definite draws for this little horror tale which operates using the traditional vampire themes. It was certainly neat seeing Zucco getting a chance to portray not only the compassionate, caring doctor who faces daunting challenges as nearly everyone sides against him, but also the vile, malevolent vampire brother who uses unbelief as a weapon. Frye doesn't have to stretch since he has portrayed this same kind of character numerous times, but it's always fun watching him playing these devious, slimy, animated villains who work valiantly for their masters. Young and Carlisle are colorless, but the roles of loving couple caught in the middle of a war between the forces of good and evil have never demanded much for the actor and actress who portrayed them. There's nothing that original in this film(..and it is rather predictable), but it's rare that you get to see Zucco as a vampire and hero, so that gives DEAD MEN WALK an allure. Typical of the vampire genre, Lloyd can only awaken at night, fears the crucifix, and is susceptible to death by fire..also, his loyal servant, Zolarr, must watch over his casket during the day, proving that despite his supernatural powers, he's vulnerable. Interesting enough, Elwyn's main weakness is returning to torment Lloyd.