The Corpse Vanishes (1942)

[lester1/2jr]

I am sometimes wary of Alpha Video releases, not so much because of the bad transfer / original film quality but because I kind of figure if a bigger company hasn't picked one of these things up and re released it it probably isn't all that good.  As always, I think it's safe to say I had my head up my a** on that one, as this is yet another good and significant Alpha product, albeit with low quality sound and reproduction.  Bela Lugosi stars as a scientist who drains women of their glands or something in his basement lab and injecting them into his 80 year old wife who looks ,  ehh, , 40 45?  It's cheap and not quite a masterpiece but solid and very recommended if you enjoy Hammer movies and stuff like "Dr FU Manchu" .  I loved when they ring the doorbell nad lugosi is playing the organ while his wife sits on a throne overlooking the living room.  and a dwarf answers the door.  There was one line I didn't understand when the reporter goes "can I get a byline?" and the boss guy says "after this, you'll get a clothesline, with my shirt on it"  ?? 4/5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNkm0SLjobQ


this was a season one mst3k So I will definately be watching that on the youtube

[the ghoul]

Great movie!  Easily one of the top 3 poverty row Lugosi films, in my opinion.  I don't know about the Alpha DVD, but my vhs copy that I taped off of AMC or TCM a long time ago is of better quality than the Madacy DVD double feature which I purchased for the other film it included.  The DVD is watchable though.

[lester1/2jr]

I'm getting Bowery at Minight tuesday

[RCMerchant]

of Lugosi's Monogram and PRC films of the 40's the CORPSE VANISHES,BOWERY at MIDNIGHT (which borrow ideas from the HUMAN MONSTER-also with Bela) and the DEVIL BAT are favorites.

[metalmonster]

One Of Lugosi's Finest Underrated classics!

[lester1/2jr]

Bowery at midnight:

  This was about as good as "The Corpse Vanishes" which is to say really pretty good. The plot isn't quite as strong, or believable (the guy lives a triple life as a teacher and a shelter owner AND a criminal ), but it makes up for it with added diablolical ness from Lugosi. Several people are killed dasterdly-ly , in general it's pretty violent.  Features the ruggedly handsome Tom Neal from the noir classic "Detour" . His tragic romance with bombshell Barbara Payton would make a good horror-noir.   and who doesn't like where you like move a candle and the bookcase opens up to a secret chamber of some kind?  They got one of those.