A crime writer Edmond Bancroft is responsible for a series of gruesome murders of young women helped by his suggestible assistant Rick, the knowledge of which murders enhances his literary career and makes him taunt Scotland Yard with their supposed incompetence. The writer also has a Black Museum of his own to rival the Yard's. Not a bad film mixing police procedural, Jekyll and Hyde and a mad scientist (though why he has all that electric equipment is unclear) but not that thrilling. The ending is weak.
It does however have the great Michael Gough who steals the film effortlessly as Bancroft. It also has stalwart supporting player Beatrice Varley in a good role as the sly antique shop owner Aggie. The direction by Arthur Crabtree is staid. Visually it looks good in Cinemascope and Eastmancolour.
Bancroft is the main villain but somehow you can't help being sorry for him. That's due to Michael Gough's acting ability. He's bad but sad.
It does however have the great Michael Gough who steals the film effortlessly as Bancroft. It also has stalwart supporting player Beatrice Varley in a good role as the sly antique shop owner Aggie. The direction by Arthur Crabtree is staid. Visually it looks good in Cinemascope and Eastmancolour.
Bancroft is the main villain but somehow you can't help being sorry for him. That's due to Michael Gough's acting ability. He's bad but sad.