Strong and Moving!

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

"The Black Cat" from 1934, is the best of the Karloff/Lugosi collaborations. Never again in their future films together would both actors have equal screen time and be equally relevant to a films plot. This makes for rather grim viewing (apart from a brief comic interlude) but the way in which this film is cast, directed, written and photographed makes for a gripping and fairly original horror film. The plot owes very little to the short story from Edgar Allan Poe but that slight reference is of no importance.For once, Bela Lugosi is cast against type as he is a more sympathetic character - even though he is still a bit unhinged!Boris Karloff is pure evil as the leader of his own group of Satanic followers. He is also the one responsible for betraying a number of his fellow countrymen during the first world war - Lugosi included.It is the performances of Karloff and Lugosi that stand out - they compliment each other very well.The American film censors weren't happy with the final version of "The Black Cat" and as a result, they instructed "Universal" to shoot additional footage in the hope of making the film more fit for public exhibition. During the extra filming, the director Edgar Ulmer managed to sneak in a scene that went by the American film censors without realising what a controversial scene it was!One of the best horror films from "Universal's" first horror cycle.

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Black Cat". The movie is not a the poem on film despite this the movie is a very good twisted occult thriller - one of better films from Karloff and Lugosi.Joan and Peter Allison are on their honeymoon and met up with Dr. Vitus Verdegast (Lugosi). They are on a bus when it over turns killing the driver. Verdegast (Lugosi) is close to his destination: the home of his nemesis Hjalmar Poelzig (Karloff) and decides to bring the young couple with him for refuge for over night - from there the movie becomes a very creepy occult horror-thriller.I have to say that Karloff's costuming and look in this film is simply awesome and very wicked! Well acted by all but Karloff steals the show.This is a great film for a dark and stormy night!! 9.5/10

Boy, does this movie have problems with the plot and plot holes, and parts of it just don't make a lot of sense, but this doesn't matter when it comes to viewing "The Black Cat". Acting, dialog, atmosphere and cinematography simply roll over any complaints I have about the screenplay's idiosyncrasies and wrap me up in a genuinely creepy and disturbing experience. Karloff and Lugosi play off each other memorably, and Bela shows that he could play more than one kind of character. What a shame it was that his career went sour in later years - one wonders what kind of roles he could have played had he learned to do without the Hungarian accent. Great fun. Worth picking up if you can find it in a DVD collection, or if you get a chance to see it on cable and wonder what the fuss is, make sure to catch it.

The Black Cat is a 1934 horror film starring Horror icons Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff in their first of many films together. The film concerns the story of Dr. Vitus Werdegast (played by Lugosi)a war veteran who has been a prisoner for the past 15 years, returning to seek revenge on famed architect Hjalmar Poelzig (played by Karloff) where he learns the horrifying fate of both his wife and daughterKarloff and Lugosi really are the main draw of The Black Cat. The film includes a married couple (played by David Manners and Julie Bishop) who get caught up in the two mens rivalry, but really aren't all that interesting. Lugosi and Karloff have two very different acting styles which I find makes this film more enjoyable to watch. Lugosi is constantly over-acting, milking every scene he's in for any dramatic effect he can, his still strong Hungarian accent gives his lines an atmosphere all their own. Karloff, on the opposite end of the spectrum likes to downplay his role. His stare is captivating, those cold, dead eyes represent the purest of evil in his character and manages to create a sense of Dread every time he's on screen.The film was made for just over $90,000 and surprisingly you cant tell. Director Edgar G. Ulmer used a number of different shots and lighting techniques in order to give Poelzig's castle its grand scale and eerie atmosphere. The plot really isn't emphasized much, the film is a battle of wits between Lugosi and Karloff and the plot is simply along for the ride. Its not a terrible plot, it has some great ideas but it doesn't have the same detail and tightness that Dracula, Frankenstein or even the follow up Lugosi/Karloff vehicle The Raven.Overall, The Black Cat is worth the watch for any fan of Lugosi and Karloff. Both actors give great, chilling performances in their own way and the atmosphere from Ulmers direction is just the icing on the cake.