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The Strange Door (1951)

Director: Joseph Pevney

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From Time Out Film Guide

Very much a B movie, luridly adapted from Stevenson's story The Sire de Malétroit's Door, but solidly implanted in the old Frankenstein sets and looking like a rough prototype for Corman's Poe series. Laughton goes enjoyably over the top as a love-crazed madman prowling a Gothic castle where the rightful owner (his elder brother) lies rotting in a dungeon and a room with clashing walls awaits the unwary intruder. Karloff balances him beautifully as the baleful but sympathetic servant who bides his time, eventually contriving a rather splendid comeuppance involving a remorselessly grinding water-wheel. It's surprisingly imaginatively put together in its thick-ear way.

Author: TM 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Joseph Pevney

Producer: Ted Richmond

Cast: Charles Laughton, Boris Karloff, Sally Forrest, Richard Stapley, Michael Pate, Alan Napier full cast

Genre(s): Horror

Duration: 81 mins


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