To hear all about this and other Universal Horror classics, listen to the seven hour documentary 'A Universe Of Horrors', right here www.attaboyclarence.com/the-se...
The fight scene looked pretty good for 1940 BUT then there is a huge disappointment with the climax which looks so fake and rushed. Along with the shooting of Spade"s partner in "The Maltese Falcon," it's one of the worst death scenes by shooting of that decade.
As a child and young adult, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, were in so many, what were then, scary and on-the-edge-of-your-seat movies. It was great to see them 60 years later although I was not on the edge of my seat. Amazing how the picture, sound, camera workmanship and skill were very well-preserved, sharp, artistic and innovative in the filming. Thank you.
Lugosi was indeed great, but kind of campy and hammy. Karloff was more varied in his talents, but couldn't seem to avoid typecasting by producers & writers. His "Mr. Wong" series was awesome.
On the contrary! A brain transplantation so successful cannot appear as credible for the time in which the movie plays. It would have required a plot unfolding in the future. Then there is the major flaw of the professor mainly retaining his old knowledge although he has a completely new brain. So you're basically still dealing with a late specimen of the surreal plots of the 1920s, with a ridiculous attempt of suggesting a Frankensteinian operation via the new medium film - or worse.
I've watched every movie Karloff was in. He was the ultimate actor with a voice that I could listen to forever. Both he & Lugosi were magnificent actors! So happy these movies are still here to watch over & over....thank you!
Stanley Ridges should have received best actor award for his performance in this film.when I first saw this growing up in the 60's it took me a while to realize it was the same actor. Bravo Mr Ridges a perfect performance.
He was awesome, wasn't he, Fanatic?? Pitch-perfect, even to the separate accents in the "hicktown" where he taught, and in NYC where he killed. Really, the Brits are the finest of actors. cheers
I just watched this for the first time and thought it was a whole different actor after his "transformation." Unbelievable acting. Karloff and Legosi are always great, but Stanley Ridges stole the movie.
I know what you mean. The viewer never feels claustrophobic because the cinematographer shoots mostly wide and there are lots of exterior shots. Close-ups are only used for dramatic purposes. This technique is common in the horror genre.
That is actually a GREAT movie, with Boris Karloff n Bela Lugosi heading up an entertaining n whimsical murder mystery!!! I enjoyed it to the VERY end!!!! Thank you for posting!!!
Most killers expect people to believe that they are the neighbor next door. Not with standing, we all agree that Boris was one fine human being and escaped abortion from their mother.
Heather Bowlan ...millennial has to use pictures to speak because they did not learn in school the way most have...become snowflakes and destroy people by accusations...
It was ECSTASY for me when I discovered "Tower of London" at a second-hand bookstore. Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone & Vincent Price together! If only it had also starred Bela Lugosi & Lon Chaney.
Good movie, such a joy to see a cast of so many veteran actors. Stanley Ridges played the professor. I looked up the movie and there are many excellent actors--so enjoyable. Thanks!😊
Bela Lugosi is just amazing in this film as the Hungarian cousin of Edward G. Robinson! Story (which I just made up now) has it that he and Humphrey Bogart traded each other for kicks, and Bogie landed in Return of Dr. X as the spook. And the other guy ain't bad either. What's his name? Stanley Ridges. Wonderful breakthrough performance. Bogie, Lugosi & Robinson, now that would have made some spectacular team! Thanks for the upload!
It's great to see that Karloff and Lugosi kept working well after they were known for playing monsters and draculas. Couldn't really see their great talent playing monsters.
Lugosi formed one of the first actors' unions back in Hungary ca. 1919, under a shortlived Communist regime. When the Communists were toppled, Lugosi had to skip off to the U.S..
Love these old movies!!! So simple, fun and a quick roller coaster ride in an hours time. Funny though, the scene where he's choking the girl (59:59), how is she screaming if he's choking her? LOL!
I was just gonna say that "say what's going on".?, In fact I had to rewind just to check it was actually the same person, thought his acting was wonderful. Love these old movies, and you never get that claustrophobic feeling if you understand what I mean.
Boris Karloff looks so distinguished, and high class, it's a shame he didn't make any more movies looking like this. I do think he was looking similar in the movie " The Black Cat."
Anne Gwynne played the perennial Universal heroine, wide-eyed and innocent. Anna Nagel was also familiar to fans of Universal serials. She was the heroine in WINNERS OF THE WEST and the GREEN HORNET.
I've been a Boris Korlof fan all my life and now middle aged I've seen many of the old classic horror/thrillers, I own the movie packs for years and now use TH-cam for all of his series and shows. But this is one movie that didn't make any sense to me.
Upset about the critical acclaim that Bela Lugosi received for his portrayal as Ygor in Son of Frankenstein (1939), Boris Karloff refused to ever play the monster again, or to appear in another film opposite Lugosi, unless he was the star with the most screen time. This explains why Karloff appropriated the doctor role that was written specifically for Lugosi in this, their next major film, leaving the Astro-Hungarian to play a minor, American gangster part, and forcing script changes to remove references to the doctor's past in Vienna, since Karloff spoke with a British accent. It also explains their final pairing, with Karloff securing maximum screen time in The Body Snatcher (1945), while having Lugosi relinquished to a "barely there" janitor role.
Hello, Patrick. As a Brit myself and if that was the case about Boris Karloff having a big ego then that isn't right. I think you respect your fellow film stars whether you like them or not. I don't think the late British actors, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee would have egos if they worked with Bela Lugosi in films but a shame they didn't though as I hate some film stars having big egos as soon they become famous. #JustSaying!
It's worth pointing out, in re: to The Body Snatcher, that Karloff was BRILLIANT in that role. It's rare to see anywhere an actor so fully embodying a role, any role; Karloff exudes personality and character throughout. So he fully deserved every second of screen time he got in that.
I guess some of you know that Karloff was originally slated to play Red with Lugosi in Karloff's part. The director wasn't satisfied with Karloff's performance as Red. So Ridges was brought in, Karloff was given Lugosi's role and Lugosi was demoted to his gangster part.
A good horror movie,and well acted by all involved. Brain transplantation,I have no doubt,has already been " in the works" by the " Powers that BE." Thank you,for showing this movie.
I really like this movie, mainly because i really love Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. But i thought it was sad because of how torturous it was to the professor. He was so sweet, smart, and kind, gets a new teaching job, gets hit in the road, major brain transplant surgery, his own mind mixed with a ganster's, becomes completely confused, has breakdowns, gets better, then is shot and killed. WOW, that was a mouthful, and trajedous!
Looking forward to this, more importantly thankyou so much for your podcasts, the research and production are supurb and I have reccomended them so often people think I have shares, The Warners story amd hitchcock episodes are just brilliant,
One of my fav Karloff Lugosi movies even though Lugosi isn't in it much he playsthe part to the most as he always does. Karloff is his usual mad scientist nothingnew but good. Ridges plays the part of the professor turned gangster as good ashe did in Phantom Speaks which I think is a awesome movie. Too bad someone doesn't post that movie. I have on vhs and it's worn out. but this is a great movie.
A must see movie! Handsome Boris Karloff and the unmistakable Bela Lagosi and other great actors . They will provide you with great entertainment in an unusual thriller. Most enjoyable!
Why is silly for you? The story is very credible in science fiction realm and the urban crime context is very realistic. After all, the mind rules the body as unquestionable truth.
I’m so glad that we were fortunate enough to have Boris Karloff. He was such a good actor and I think he was a nice man too in real life.
Yes he was. Karloff was very well regarded by almost all of his Hollywood peers, and gracious to his fans.
The kind of movies i use watch when i was young on holiday in bed at night when it was cold and raining outside. Brings back good memories. Thank you
I think we were separated at birth❤
Me too! 👍
ME THREE! 💜🙏👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🌹
Bela Lugosi sounds like a vampire no matter who he is playing. Love it.
Jennifer Lundgren Ygor
so true ..
knock ....12----123 ...just call me RED ......
YES HE STILL IS A VAMPIRE ,,, HAAAAAA
Master of the Hungarian drawl.
That actually hurt his career later on.
Today They don't make horror movies with amazing actors like Lugosi and Karloff
Thank you for posting this film without a boat load of commercials from TH-cam
Never heard of this movie. Just amazing. Fantastic writing, camera shots, and no gore. Thanks for posting.
The fight scene looked pretty good for 1940 BUT then there is a huge disappointment with the climax which looks so fake and rushed. Along with the shooting of Spade"s partner in "The Maltese Falcon," it's one of the worst death scenes by shooting of that decade.
Can't beat a good old Black and White with Karloff and Lugosi. Thanks for the upload.
As a child and young adult, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, were in so many, what were then, scary and on-the-edge-of-your-seat movies. It was great to see them 60 years later although I was not on the edge of my seat. Amazing how the picture, sound, camera workmanship and skill were very well-preserved, sharp, artistic and innovative in the filming. Thank you.
Lugosi was indeed great, but kind of campy and hammy. Karloff was more varied in his talents, but couldn't seem to avoid typecasting by producers & writers. His "Mr. Wong" series was awesome.
@@scarygary-qq1pj Colonel March was an excellent series, with Karloff as the good, wise, Scotland Yard Inspector.
What is there not to like about a movie from 1940 with Karloff and Lugosi?
This was magnificent!!! They can never make movies like this again!!! Boris and Bela are superb actors 😁!!;
Completely agree with you 100%
On the contrary! A brain transplantation so successful cannot appear as credible for the time in which the movie plays. It would have required a plot unfolding in the future. Then there is the major flaw of the professor mainly retaining his old knowledge although he has a completely new brain. So you're basically still dealing with a late specimen of the surreal plots of the 1920s, with a ridiculous attempt of suggesting a Frankensteinian operation via the new medium film - or worse.
👍
@@HansDunkelberg1🙄
@@gabbysch2625 Meaning what? My brain transplant currently does not work well enough to understand you.
I LOVE THESE OLD 1930'S AND 1940'S B/W CLASSICS FROM universal studios..
I've watched every movie Karloff was in. He was the ultimate actor with a voice that I could listen to forever. Both he & Lugosi were magnificent actors! So happy these movies are still here to watch over & over....thank you!
I saw this movie over 40yrs ago when I was a teenager. This is a great movie with a flair of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde. Thanks for this.
Scientifically absurd but highly entertaining, a very fine screenplay by Siodmak and remarkable acting by Stanley Ridges. Thanks for posting.
Great Acting and one of my Late Father's favourites and he never cared for Horror Films
Stanley Ridges should have received best actor award for his performance in this film.when I first saw this growing up in the 60's it took me a while to realize it was the same actor. Bravo Mr Ridges a perfect performance.
He was awesome, wasn't he, Fanatic?? Pitch-perfect, even to the separate accents in the "hicktown" where he taught, and in NYC where he killed. Really, the Brits are the finest of actors. cheers
TheUniversalFanatic p
That's the best film performance that a character actor like Stanley Ridges ever pulled off.
I just watched this for the first time and thought it was a whole different actor after his "transformation." Unbelievable acting. Karloff and Legosi are always great, but Stanley Ridges stole the movie.
I know what you mean. The viewer never feels claustrophobic because the cinematographer shoots mostly wide and there are lots of exterior shots. Close-ups are only used for dramatic purposes. This technique is common in the horror genre.
OMG, Sunny's apartment is DA BOMB!!! I especially love her hidden bar that opens up at the touch of a button!
She was caught up in a dangerous life though lucrative. Happens more often than is known.
I love the retro
That is actually a GREAT movie, with Boris Karloff n Bela Lugosi heading up an entertaining n whimsical murder mystery!!! I enjoyed it to the VERY end!!!! Thank you for posting!!!
I just love how Kingsleys's hairstyle changed between his characters.
I agree, that was pretty cool!
Pretty good. I love these short black and white movies.
Just watched it again after a year or so. Even better. One of the Karloff greats. Thanks!
Thank you. Mr. Karloff was a great surprise! He really was a sweet , intelligent, sophisticated, gentler man.
Mary Wilder Yes you fine words , as if you took them right out of my mind , God bless you and you family! ❤️🇨🇦🙏🏽
Most killers expect people to believe that they are the neighbor next door. Not with standing, we all agree that Boris was one fine human being and escaped abortion from their mother.
And a great cricket fan too.
Boris Karloff is such a very Hansom man !❤️🙏🏽🇨🇦
Heather Bowlan ...millennial has to use pictures to speak because they did not learn in school the way most have...become snowflakes and destroy people by accusations...
Absolutely ❤️❤️❤️
Handsome
Some of these old movie like this one you can't beat, for well written stories and the best actors and actresses.
This was a really great movie!!
Thank you!!!
Thank you for posting this great film !
vannburen THIS MOVIE IS GETTING GOOD!!!!
WOW! Boris & Bela in the same movie. Don't miss this top-notch 1940 classic of Black Friday. Thanks Adam for this great find and upload for all.
they also made BLK CAT, RAVEN, INVISIBLE RAY together amng others, 8 in all
It was ECSTASY for me when I discovered "Tower of London" at a second-hand bookstore. Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone & Vincent Price together! If only it had also starred Bela Lugosi & Lon Chaney.
Thank-You for posting this! Svengoolie is showing it soon, on MeTV as well!
Coming up next Saturday
Good movie, such a joy to see a cast of so many veteran actors. Stanley Ridges played the professor. I looked up the movie and there are many excellent actors--so enjoyable. Thanks!😊
Bela Lugosi is just amazing in this film as the Hungarian cousin of Edward G. Robinson! Story (which I just made up now) has it that he and Humphrey Bogart traded each other for kicks, and Bogie landed in Return of Dr. X as the spook. And the other guy ain't bad either. What's his name? Stanley Ridges. Wonderful breakthrough performance. Bogie, Lugosi & Robinson, now that would have made some spectacular team! Thanks for the upload!
Nice fantasy....
Love them all
Third time for me. I'm sure I'll be watching again some day. Ridges is fantastic. Thanks again,
It's great to see that Karloff and Lugosi kept working well after they were known for playing monsters and draculas. Couldn't really see their great talent playing monsters.
Lugosi formed one of the first actors' unions back in Hungary ca. 1919, under a shortlived Communist regime. When the Communists were toppled, Lugosi had to skip off to the U.S..
Outstanding classic! Thank you!
Thank you! Great collection of classics. Sometimes its good to walk on the darkside.
Magnificent!
WONDERFUL MOVIE. THANKS A LOT.
Love these old movies!!! So simple, fun and a quick roller coaster ride in an hours time. Funny though, the scene where he's choking the girl (59:59), how is she screaming if he's choking her? LOL!
A Superb performace by Stanley Ridges as Professor Kingsley / Red Cannon.
This is a great Science Fiction / Noir motion picture.
I was just gonna say that "say what's going on".?, In fact I had to rewind just to check it was actually the same person, thought his acting was wonderful. Love these old movies, and you never get that claustrophobic feeling if you understand what I mean.
Forever England: What did you mean by "that claustrophobic feeling" in a movie?
Boris Karloff looks so distinguished, and high class, it's a shame he didn't make any more movies looking like this.
I do think he was looking similar in the movie " The Black Cat."
I do think it also had Bella Lugosi in that movie.
Nothin' better than Boris on a Friday afternoon!
~ Peace
Anne Gwynne played the perennial Universal heroine, wide-eyed and innocent. Anna Nagel was also familiar to fans of Universal serials. She was the heroine in WINNERS OF THE WEST and the GREEN HORNET.
She was a BAD GIRL is this movie and "Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe", also 1940.
This film is older than me by a year but it is a great film.Beats the modern ones
Thanks for uploading this classic!
+Jimmy Darmod Frankenstein MONSTER!
Loving the premise of this movie 💕
Terrific old film!!! Thanks for uploading!! i really enjoyed it.
I've been a Boris Korlof fan all my life and now middle aged I've seen many of the old classic horror/thrillers, I own the movie packs for years and now use TH-cam for all of his series and shows. But this is one movie that didn't make any sense to me.
I don't need subtitles for old Hollywood movies. But I can't do avoid them in films nowadays.
grateful for excellent video quality--thank you
According to Wiki, this is a science fiction, gangster psychological thriller. Boy, I like that idea.
Upset about the critical acclaim that Bela Lugosi received for his portrayal as Ygor in Son of Frankenstein (1939), Boris Karloff refused to ever play the monster again, or to appear in another film opposite Lugosi, unless he was the star with the most screen time. This explains why Karloff appropriated the doctor role that was written specifically for Lugosi in this, their next major film, leaving the Astro-Hungarian to play a minor, American gangster part, and forcing script changes to remove references to the doctor's past in Vienna, since Karloff spoke with a British accent. It also explains their final pairing, with Karloff securing maximum screen time in The Body Snatcher (1945), while having Lugosi relinquished to a "barely there" janitor role.
Patrick, thank you, for that wealth of information. Boris, had a bit of egotism.
Hello, Patrick. As a Brit myself and if that was the case about Boris Karloff having a big ego then that isn't right. I think you respect your fellow film stars whether you like them or not. I don't think the late British actors, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee would have egos if they worked with Bela Lugosi in films but a shame they didn't though as I hate some film stars having big egos as soon they become famous. #JustSaying!
It's worth pointing out, in re: to The Body Snatcher, that Karloff was BRILLIANT in that role. It's rare to see anywhere an actor so fully embodying a role, any role; Karloff exudes personality and character throughout. So he fully deserved every second of screen time he got in that.
I love the exciting graphics openings of these old movies
Why would anyone think that putting a criminal's brain into a good man's body would "save" the good man's life. We are our brain's content.
Boris later tells Red that he saved HIS life by giving him the English professor's body. Good thing Jekyll and Hyde don't compare notes in this one!
I guess some of you know that Karloff was originally slated to play Red with Lugosi in Karloff's part. The director wasn't satisfied with Karloff's performance as Red. So Ridges was brought in, Karloff was given Lugosi's role and Lugosi was demoted to his gangster part.
TY for the upload, a fine movie :-)
Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, what more do you need in a vintage film?
Really quite good!
Great movie. Thanks for posting it !
Great old B&W movie! Thanks for posting! :-)
Kane was Paul Fix who was Sheriff Mica in The Rifleman!
And Devore was Raymond Bailey, aka Milburn Drysdale on "The Beverly Hillbillies"!!
Phil Bourdon: Paul Fix was also a supporting actor in almost every John Wayne movie ever made.
I agree, truly great performance!
Karloff, lugosi, and Vincent Price . The best...
Excellent
$500,000 in 1940 is the same as $11,000,000 today
A good horror movie,and well acted by all involved. Brain transplantation,I have no doubt,has already been " in the works" by the " Powers that BE." Thank you,for showing this movie.
Great Movie!
EXCELLENT.MANY THANKS.
Awesome movie. Thanks.
I really like this movie, mainly because i really love Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. But i thought it was sad because of how torturous it was to the professor. He was so sweet, smart, and kind, gets a new teaching job, gets hit in the road, major brain transplant surgery, his own mind mixed with a ganster's, becomes completely confused, has breakdowns, gets better, then is shot and killed. WOW, that was a mouthful, and trajedous!
Trajedous. Word of the day.
Thanks for posting it for us 😀
Looking forward to this, more importantly thankyou so much for your podcasts, the research and production are supurb and I have reccomended them so often people think I have shares, The Warners story amd hitchcock episodes are just brilliant,
brilliant
Karloff and Lugosi: the demonic duo.
Thank you AR, great film, I've liked and subscribed 👍
THIS IS A GREAT AND UNDER APPRECIATED FILM THIS ONE IS AWESOME.
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving HA HA
Great classic movie with 2 stars who play in horror movies.
Thanks for the upload Adam Roche.
Ed
One of my fav Karloff Lugosi movies even though Lugosi isn't in it much he playsthe part to the most as he always does. Karloff is his usual mad scientist nothingnew but good. Ridges plays the part of the professor turned gangster as good ashe did in Phantom Speaks which I think is a awesome movie. Too bad someone doesn't post that movie. I have on vhs and it's worn out. but this is a great movie.
Karloff and Lugosi that's all i needed to see thanks for posting.
Cool movie! Love Boris Karloff. Thanks for sharing!
I really liked this movie, great story!
This movie has always bothered me, I'm sure in the 1940's they knew that the seat of personal identity was the brain.
You need an intro in your description so people know what it's basically about, and what genre it is.
A Jolly Good Heads-Up on The 'Universe of Horrors'.... Splendiferous Indeed 🏴🥂🖖
Loretta Jenkins was also in this old movie , she was the RN , i was in this movie as Red Cannon '''
Ya i am Red too . Now that i seen the movie
Great movie!!!!
These old movies are the best! I love when the doctors smoke!
I remember people smoking in hospital waiting rooms in the 70's
A must see movie! Handsome Boris Karloff and the unmistakable Bela Lagosi and other great actors .
They will provide you with great entertainment in an unusual thriller.
Most enjoyable!
Another great Boris and company film. Thanks so much for posting.
vey good movie! Thanks Adam Roche!
Classic Boris movie, fun to watch
Oh wow this movie was a shout! Thoroughly enjoyed it!!!
I WAS CONFUSING THIS MOVIE WITH 'BLACK SABBATH' WHICH WAS SET IN A DIFFERENT ERA, ALSO STARRING BORIS KARLOFF.
A doctor giving his patient a CIGARETTE, in the room!
A nice 4 finger glass of scotch would have been nice too
So nice to watch an old film that is crystal clear love Boris,1887 1969
Thank you.
Raymond Bailey portrayed Louis DeVore--Raymond Bailey was best known as Mr. Drysdale on "The Beverly Hillbillies"!!!
Two great stars karloff. And lugosi ❤❤❤❤❤
@19:02, he recites a line from Lord Tennyson's "The Brook".
What happened to all the money?!
I always have loved this movie. kind of a twist on the Dr.Jekyll and mr.Hyde story.
Silly but enjoyable
Why is silly for you? The story is very credible in science fiction realm and the urban crime context is very realistic. After all, the mind rules the body as unquestionable truth.
What an amazing surgery, even his hair colour changes lol. Great movie!