IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Insurance agent-physician collects on policies of men murdered by a disfigured resident of the home for the blind where he acts as doctor-on-call.Insurance agent-physician collects on policies of men murdered by a disfigured resident of the home for the blind where he acts as doctor-on-call.Insurance agent-physician collects on policies of men murdered by a disfigured resident of the home for the blind where he acts as doctor-on-call.
Wilfred Walter
- Jake
- (as Wilfrid Walter)
O.B. Clarence
- Prof. John Dearborn
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
May Hallatt
- Police Constable Griggs
- (uncredited)
Bryan Herbert
- Police Sgt. Walsh
- (uncredited)
Arthur E. Owen
- Dumb Lou
- (uncredited)
Charles Penrose
- Morrison - Undercover Detective
- (uncredited)
Gerald Pring
- Henry Stuart
- (uncredited)
Philip Stewart
- Scotland Yard Detective
- (uncredited)
George Street
- Scotland Yard Commissioner
- (uncredited)
Julie Suedo
- Orloff's Secretary
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe first British horror movie to be rated 'H' for horrific, which was brought in by the British Board of Film Censors in 1933 for films that were deemed too horrific for children under 16 to see after the early '30s Universal horrors shocked audiences.
- Quotes
Diana Stuart: I can't! I daren't!
Det. Insp. Larry Holt: You'll dare. I've got to have sufficient proof that Dr. Orloff is a murderer and your father was his last victim.
- Alternate versionsWhen re-released theatrically in the UK in 1949, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating. All cuts were waived in 1953 when the film was re-released theatrically with a 'X' certificate and later in 1993 when released with a 'PG' certificate for home video.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Creature Features: Horror Hotel/The Human Monster (1971)
Featured review
Far from brilliant, but very high on the "creepy factor"
Bela Lugosi made a lot of schlocky films during his career. While DARK EYES OF London is definitely a low budget film, thanks to decent writing and a very creepy style it manages to entertain even after almost 70 years.
Bela plays a totally amoral criminal who runs an insurance company. He insures people and makes himself the beneficiary after making these people loans. But instead of waiting to collect the money, he drowns them and throws their body in the Thames. While an interesting scheme, he oddly does it repeatedly--naturally arousing the suspicions of the police.
In addition to being an insurance man, Lugosi also is a benefactor to a home for indigent blind men. However, this act of kindness is a front, as this home is where Bela commits his murders with the help of a truly horrifying looking blind assistant. Near the very end, you actually get to see him kill one of his innocent victims and toss him in the river in a very graphic way--hence deservedly earning its special horror rating in the UK.
The film earns some points for an unusual plot and its graphic scenes--it really is a pretty scary film for 1940. However, there are a few lulls, some overacting by the idiot playing the cop from Chicago and the irrationality of Lugosi committing so many murders yet hoping to get away with it when he's the only rational suspect. By the way, speaking of the Chicago cop, do all Brits see us Americans as THAT brash and annoying?! I sure hope not! You also wonder why they even bothered including this character, as he was rather distracting and unnecessary.
Bela plays a totally amoral criminal who runs an insurance company. He insures people and makes himself the beneficiary after making these people loans. But instead of waiting to collect the money, he drowns them and throws their body in the Thames. While an interesting scheme, he oddly does it repeatedly--naturally arousing the suspicions of the police.
In addition to being an insurance man, Lugosi also is a benefactor to a home for indigent blind men. However, this act of kindness is a front, as this home is where Bela commits his murders with the help of a truly horrifying looking blind assistant. Near the very end, you actually get to see him kill one of his innocent victims and toss him in the river in a very graphic way--hence deservedly earning its special horror rating in the UK.
The film earns some points for an unusual plot and its graphic scenes--it really is a pretty scary film for 1940. However, there are a few lulls, some overacting by the idiot playing the cop from Chicago and the irrationality of Lugosi committing so many murders yet hoping to get away with it when he's the only rational suspect. By the way, speaking of the Chicago cop, do all Brits see us Americans as THAT brash and annoying?! I sure hope not! You also wonder why they even bothered including this character, as he was rather distracting and unnecessary.
helpful•173
- planktonrules
- Apr 3, 2008
- How long is The Human Monster?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 13 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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