Bedlam

Even Val Lewton's staunchest fans don't claim Bedlam as one of his most successful productions, but its tale of the celebrated 18th century madhouse is both intelligently written and admirably acted. Its major pretension is also its greatest weakness: the design is scrupulously modelled on Hogarth prints, and the aestheticism finally swamps most of the gusto in the plot. Robson's notably unpoetic direction doesn't help, either; yet few Hollywood films ever had such ambition.