The Black Raven (1943) User Reviews

Surprisingly good considering its lousy pedigree.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 15 September 2010]

This is a cheap B-movie made by a very small studio, PRC. It stars George Zucco--the King of low-budget suspense and horror films of the 1940s. While most every film he starred in for PRC and other poverty row studios were terribly written and had cheap sets and actors, he managed good performances. Plus, while often silly, these films really were a lot of fun.

"Black Raven" is one of his PRC films and once again his performance was pretty good. Apparently old George is a criminal known to the forces of the underworld as "The Raven". You'd think with such a cool name he'd be sort of like Blofeld or Dr. Evil, but this is a kinder, gentler sort of villain (to paraphrase George W.). While a crook, he's a decent sort of crook--with a strong sense of justice.

The weather is awful and bridges have washed away, so several travelers seek refuge George's inn (his legitimate cover). Some of them are crooks themselves (such as an embezzler who just happens to come there on his way across the border to Canada), a couple are running off to Canada to marry because her father is a jerk who won't give consent and, finally, the father arrives. Now talk about a coincidence--this father ALSO happens to be a judge AND George (among others) hates the guy. Eventually, there is a murder and the nice man who is running away with the lady is accused. Here's where it gets odd. The Raven KNOWS that the man is innocent and decides to try to help! Like I said, he's a kindler, gentler sort of crook! Overall, this is a very good film despite its poor pedigree. The plot is tight, the acting (in addition to Zucco) is very nice and it's a surprisingly good B-movie. Well worth seeing--even with a very unusual characterization by the Zucc-Meister!

A difficult-to-find film

[Norm-30 · 6/10 · 30 July 1999]

This is a very "odd" film about the owner of a hotel (Zucco) who as a side-line of smuggling criminals into Canada.

It is a VERY "atmospheric" film, with plenty of rain, thunder, and mysterious goings-on. Comedy relief is provided by the "scared-reaction comedy" of Strange & Foulger.

Many reviewers have (unfairly, in my opinion) "panned" this film, but I think it's a film worth seeing.....and VERY difficult to find!

Compact Little Mystery!

[bsmith5552 · 6/10 · 7 December 2002]

"The Black Raven", released by PRC is a surprisingly good low budget mystery running just under an hour.

The story takes place during a raging storm that has knocked out the local roads and bridge. A group of varied travellers are then forced to seek shelter in a small hotel run by the mysterious Amos Bradford (George Zucco). The first to arrive is an old nemesis Whitey Cole (I. Stanford Jolley) who has a score to settle with Bradford. Bradford and his oaf-ish assistant Andy (Glenn Strange) overpower him and tie him up but he manages to escape and remain in the shadows.

Shortly thereafter a gangster, Bardoni (Noel Madison) arrives on his way to Canada. Next a meek bank teller (Byron Foulger) who has embezzled $50,000 arrives followed by a young couple Lee Winfield (Wanda McKay) and Allen Bentley (Bob Randall) who are also running off to Canada to get married. Turns out Lee is the daughter of Bardoni's gangland boss (Robert Middlemass) who is the next to arrive looking for his daughter.

Naturally everyone takes an interest in the $50K. Then Winfield is murdered and the Sheriff (Charles Middleton) arrives on the scene. As in all such mysteries suspicion falls on each of the principals until the real murderer is unmasked in the final reel.

This compact little mystery is an entertaining little film noire. Director Sam Newfeld keeps the story moving and the audience guessing. The film is bolstered by its veteran "B" movie cast. Zucco, always under rated, was a staple of such films in the 40s and gives a excellent performance as Bradford. Glenn Strange is also good in a Lon Chaney Jr. type role as the simple-minded Andy. Foulger made a career out of playing meek little bank tellers. And Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless in the Flash Gordon serials) gets to play a good guy for a change.

An entertaining hour.

Has the spirit of this movie been reborn?

[timreasmith · 29 January 2004]

If you have a taste for old B-movie mysteries, this film will interest you. It delivers a good moody atmosphere with great shots of down-pouring rain, dark cellars and interesting characters. Various groups of people all become stranded at a spooky motel after a rain storm has closed the local highways leading out. A great cast of veteran actors make this little mystery worth watching. George Zucco is at his B-movie best. Glenn Strange gives us some good comedy relief. Plus, there is not much cheesy over-acting that you sometimes find in low budget movies.

Here's a cool suggestion: Go rent the current movie, 'Identity' starring John Cusack. Then watch The Black Raven. You may be as amazed, as I was, at how much of the characters, plot and setting appeared to be lifted from this movie. I am not suggesting that they were stolen. If you have already seen 'Identity' you will understand that a certain character in the film seems to have spun a tale based on what he saw watching "an old movie". I'm just saying that I think 'The Black Raven' is the movie that they are referring to. While the character nor the movie maker actually says this, there is one reference in 'Identity' where a girl says, "This is like that old movie where everybody is trapped in hotel..." This probably doesn't make much sense unless you have seen both mentioned movies.

Don't misunderstand me, I thought the movie 'Identity' was a brilliant display of script-writing. Way to go, Michael Cooney.

Zucco a Paradox

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 12 December 2006]

This is a confusing mystery with lots of darkness and bumbling around. George Zucco is really the only interesting character. He seems to be part of the criminal element, yet he seems to have dignity and integrity. When a group of mismatched people arrive at a hotel in an intense rainstorm, including a gangster, a corrupt politician, his daughter and her fiancée, and an escaped convict, the action gets going. There is also an embezzler with 50,000 dollars who plays the Casper Milquetoast type. His money leads to all kinds of shenanigans. There's also a sheriff played by Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless), who is a bit of a buffoon. Throw in Glen Strange, former Frankenstein monster, and you have about as odd an assortment as you can imagine. The pacing is pretty bad. There is a lot of running around in the dark and people looking through windows. Still, it's Zucco's character that really captivates. The bad thing is, "What is his motivation?" He observes and comments. He is trafficking criminals to Canada, yet we don't get enough information to really understand him. It's pretty forgettable, but has some moments.

Fast-moving old dark hotel thriller with lively performances

[csteidler · 6/10 · 17 March 2012]

George Zucco runs a little country inn called the Black Raven. He himself is also known as the Black Raven—a mysterious underworld figure whose services include assistance to those hoping to slip quietly over the nearby border into Canada.

He has guests: his former partner has busted out of prison to come and get revenge on him; a gangster on the lam (Noel Madison) wants help getting to Canada; a bank clerk (Byron Foulger) stops on his way to Canada with a briefcase full of money; and an eloping couple (Wanda McKay and Bob Livingston—billed here as Robt. Randall) stop for the night, or at least until the storm lets up. Hot in pursuit is the eloping girl's father, who also happens to be a powerful and shady political figure and a bitter rival of the fleeing gangster.

When one of these guests turns up dead and the bag of money goes missing, the Raven has a house full of suspicious characters throwing around accusations and digging around for the money.

The action moves along pretty fast and the plot mostly holds together. The dialog is never particularly original but contains a certain amount of dry humor— Foulger: "Oh, dear, how awful. How'd it happen?" Zucco: "Evidently someone didn't like him."

Zucco is good and is basically the hero—although we know he operates outside of the law, he takes a certain interest in protecting the young couple in particular. Glenn Strange is the Raven's handyman; it's kind of funny to see him as comic relief, as he shivers at shadows and falls down stairs. Charles Middleton is also essentially a comic figure as the clueless sheriff. (Here he has the authoritative voice but none of the brains of the Emperor Ming.)

The cast give enthusiastic performances, the storm effects and lighting create the right atmosphere…it's lots of fun.

Several Unexpected Guests

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 4 June 2014]

The Black Raven is both the name of an Inn near the Canadian border and it is the underworld nickname of its owner George Zucco. At one time a kingpin racketeer Zucco now is retired and owns this rural hideaway which some of his associates use when they're fleeing the country.

On one dark and stormy night when a local bridge washes out, several unexpected guests arrive including political boss Robert Middlemass hot on the heels of his daughter Wanda McKay who is eloping with Robert Livingston in one of his few non-western roles. Middlemass is the first of several murders that night before Sheriff Charles Middleton gets it all solved by a dying confession and the elimination of a few cast members.

Although this is a typical PRC poverty row product as always George Zucco exudes menace and keeps this film moving along nicely. Might be worth a look.

"With your imagination, you'd see the Statue of Liberty do the conga."

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 13 March 2018]

Ever-delightful George Zucco, that great genre character-star of the Golden Age of Hollywood, is front and centre in this zippy, enjoyable PRC programmer. He plays Amos Bradford, the proprietor of an inn near the U.S. / Canada border whose side business is smuggling criminals across the border. A disparate group of individuals - a milquetoast embezzler (Byron Foulger), a racketeer (Noel Madison), a couple (Robert Livingston, Wanda McKay) attempting to elope, her big shot politician father (Robert Middlemass), and others - gather for an eventful night of murder (during a terrible rain storm, naturally) at Zuccos' establishment.

This is actually quite fun, and it does keep you on your toes regarding the mystery aspect of the story (written by Fred Myton); since there are a few shady types hanging around, and there is more than one motive for wanting the first victim out of the way, the viewer doesn't automatically focus on one character. A strong sense of humour also helps matters a lot, with Amos coming off as a very unflappable and sardonic man, who has a genuine interest in figuring out whodunit. Much of the comedy relief is provided by none other than Glenn Strange, who plays Amos' excitable, bumbling assistant, and he's pretty amusing. Overall, the cast is good. Also appearing are Charles Middleton as a humourless Sheriff and top character actor I. Stanford Jolley as the slimy prison escapee Whitey Cole.

"The Black Raven" has solid atmosphere, an excellent pace (clocking in at BARELY over an hour long), and a bittersweet wrap-up. It's good fun for any fan of thrillers and horror films from this era.

Seven out of 10.

It might be good

[bensonmum2 · 5/10 · 4 February 2005]

The Black Raven is another movie that IMDb has incorrectly listed as a "Horror/Mystery". "Mystery" - I'll give you. "Horror" - None that I saw.

The basic story: Several varied travelers are forced to stay at an inn by a thunderstorm that has washed out the roads and bridges. One of the guests has $50,000 that he stole from the bank where he worked. When one of the guests is murdered, it seems that everybody had a motive. And to complicate matters, the $50,000 is missing. Who did it? You'll have to watch to find out.

The movie stars George Zucco and Glenn Strange. Both were veterans of both B-pictures and mainstream horror. The performances of Zucco and Strange, as well as most of the rest of the cast, is superior to what you normally find in a PRC production.

The film has tons of atmosphere. The big, dark inn, the thunderstorm, the hiding places, and the characters' motivations create a terrific atmosphere for a mystery thriller. The inn, with it's many guest rooms and cellar makes a great setting for a murder.

The problem I had while watching The Black Raven wasn't so much with the movie, but with the DVD I have. The Alpha DVD is VERY dark in some places. It's all but impossible to tell what is going on. The worst is that one of the dark spots occurs during the final events of the movie leading up to the killer being revealed. What a shame, because otherwise this would have been a highly enjoyable little murder mystery.

For what it's worth, I'll give the movie a 5/10. It would probably be a point higher if I had been able to see exactly what was happening. Also, I'll give the Alpha DVD a 2/10. I know this is an old film that has probably been given very little care, but the transfer was unacceptable even by Alpha's standards.

"You're more stupid than usual, Sheriff."

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 16 June 2017]

Old dark house mystery from poverty row studio PRC starring George Zucco as a guy who runs a hotel on the American side of the Canadian border, where he helps criminals flee the country. One dark and stormy night a group of strangers stop at the hotel to wait out the bad weather. Then a crooked politician with connections to several people in the group shows up and promptly gets himself murdered.

You had me at George Zucco, PRC. This is an enjoyable little B movie with a decent cast. In addition to the always terrific George Zucco, the cast includes Byron Foulger, Noel Madison, Wanda McKay, Charles Middleton, and Glenn Strange as Zucco's simpleminded sidekick. It's cheaply made and the story isn't particularly original, but it's just an hour so it won't kill you to give it a shot.

Strangers of a dark & stormy night

[Chase_Witherspoon · 4/10 · 8 September 2012]

A group of strangers holed up at a quaint lodge (The Black Raven) during a fierce storm discover that one of the guests has embezzled a large sum of money and is carrying the stash en route to Canada. Predictably, murder and subterfuge soon follow as the parties vie for the tainted bounty.

Solid cast includes Zucco as the inn's apparently benevolent manager, Glenn Strange (a sort of 1930's version of Mike Lane) his lanky, trusted goon and Byron Foulger as the cashed-up fugitive. Wanda McKay and Bob Randall play an eloping couple, pursued by the bride's possessive father (Middlemass) who has vetoed the nuptials. It's the typical assortment of guests each brining their own travails to bear upon the common intrigue and nobody is above suspicion.

Zucco is a masterful thespian and his patient, assured (not to mention immaculately attired) presence easily eclipses the surrounding mediocrity, an otherwise average tale that plays the clichéd formula 'dark & stormy night with strangers' with few innovations or surprises.

A delightful period piece

[ivorybow · 8/10 · 20 July 2008]

I got to see this film last night on my local access channel, and I had such a good time with it. It reminded me so clearly of the classic early Warner Brothers cartoons about the fiends in the old houses on stormy nights and when you watch a movie like this, you can see the influences that inspired the great Chuck Jones. Though I agree with the other reviewer that this movie is a bit muddled, I cannot watch a movie like this from the perspective of its own time. It is so much a period piece. And that is the source of delight. The quality of the sound...the pops and crackles, the staged storm sound effects, the clothes, the lighting, the bumbling sheriff, the damsel in distress - all come together to present a little gem out of time. I recommend this film as a charming visit with our history of movie making.

NeverMore

[sol1218 · 6/10 · 17 December 2004]

***SPOILERS*** Fate brings six people together one night at the Black Raven Inn thats on the Canadian USA border. The first person who shows up is escaped convict Whitey Cole, I. Stanford Jolly, who has a score to settle with the Inn's owner Bradford, George Zucco. Having been double-crossed by Bradford and losing his half of the Black Raven Inn Cole wants him to pay for his backstabbing but is subdued by Bradford and his handyman at the Inn Andy, Glen Strange, and tied up and held captive in the basement until the police come to arrest him.

Soon another customer arrives Mike Bardoni, Noel Madison, a wanted hood who's trying to make it across the border to Canada to escape the law. The next four persons who arrive at the Inn is Horace Weatherby, Bryon Foulger, a bank clerk who just embezzled $50,000.00 from his bank and the couple of Allen Bently, Bob Randell, and his fiancé Lee Winfield, Wanda McCay, who are also trying to elope to Canada to escape Lee's domineering and gangster father Tim Winfield, Robert Middleass. Winfield also arrives at the Inn in order to stop his daughter from going through with her marriage to Allen. Winfield is also the man who brought Bardoni down as a top gang leader in the world of organized crime and you just can imagine what happened when the two men end up in the same room together.

Cole unties himself and escapes into the woods as Winfield recognizes Weatherby from his picture in the newspapers as the bank embezzler and gets him to give him the $50,000.00 so, as he tells Weatherby, he'll return it to the police and nothing would happen to him. Earlier in the movie Brdoni noticed the money Weatherby was carrying in a satchel and wanted to take and keep the loot for himself but as it turns out both Winfield & Bardoni end up getting murdered, who did it?

"The Black Raven" isn't one of George Zucco's best but it would be watchable only if the lighting in the movie was better. It looked like the movie was filmed in a mineshaft with some scenes so dark that it was impossible to make out who was in them. There was also an attempt of having some humor in the film with a bumbling sheriff, Charlie Middleton, and a cowardly Inn worker Andy.

Glen Strange who played Andy is almost twice as big, at six foot seven inches, as anyone in the movie and him being scared to death of every little sound and shadow came across as phony as a three dollar bill. It was left up to Bradford as well the audience, the dopey Sheriff was no help at all, to figure out who the killer or killers were and the ending when he was discovered by Bradford did surprise me.

B-movie

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 16 December 2020]

It's the isolated Black Raven hotel on a stormy night. The owner Mr. Bradford is confronted by an armed criminal from his past. Various characters gather. The bridge to Canada is out and they are all stranded together.

This is supposed to be a mystery. The location is solid isolation. It's a mansion in a storm. The filmmaking is a bit flat and a little stiff. It's a bland B-movie of rambling stories and characters. Quite frankly, I'm not sure who is the protagonist. It would help for one character to be the rooting interest.

Almost an Old Dark House movie.

[wrbtu · 18 March 2001]

Almost an Old Dark House movie. On the qualifying side, it's a mystery, it has four murders, comic elements, a very serious thunderstorm, stranded motorists, people hiding in the shadows, & a big old dark boarding house. Close enough, I would say, but I didn't see any secret passageways & the film was made a bit late (1945) to qualify. Good dialog, intelligently written for its type, & most (but not all) of the acting is competent. George Zucco is especially good as the owner of the boarding house. 1940s Frankenstein fans, & Gunsmoke (TV) fans will greatly enjoy Glenn Strange's comic role as Zucco's assistant; he's funny & gets to do a little slapstick! Overall, quite an enjoyable film if you like this sort of thing (I do). It's hard to find this one, but it's worth looking for. I rate it 8/10.

The Black Raven (1943) *

[JoeKarlosi · 2/10 · 20 May 2005]

It's always "hit or miss" with old public domain cheapies from studios like Monogram and PRC. This miss had my name on it because madman George Zucco and Last Universal Frankenstein Monster Glenn Strange were featured in its cast.

Zucco is the proprietor of a creaky little inn (both he and the Inn are called THE BLACK RAVEN) and during the course of an hour's viewing time he plays host to an assorted group of unusual guests. It's a stormy night in town with thunder crashing and rain flooding the roads, and on top of that the bridge is out. Among the waterlogged patrons seeking shelter are: a formerly wronged business partner of Zucco's who'd like to kill him, a geeky embezzler looking to get away with $50,000 stolen loot, a gangster who's also interested in said loot, a young couple looking to get married behind the back of the girl's objecting old father, and dad himself - who's also hot on their trail.

The unfortunate thing is that nothing terribly exciting happens despite the effort to make this some sort of mystery. Aside from a little mood, the only things going on here of passing interest are some slapstick (Glenn Strange plays an imbecile who falls down the stairs; the young girl's angry father slaps her would-be bridegroom across his face) and some humorous dialogue (a favorite is Zucco's scolding of Strange: "With your imagination, you could see the Statue of Liberty do the conga!"). In case you couldn't tell by now, this is not a horror film. So you're best going elsewhere if that's what you're looking for. I already knew this going in but it still didn't help. * out of ****

Only the hypocrites will pretend being indignant

[Cristi_Ciopron · 6/10 · 20 January 2009]

Dear reader, do you like the _mefistofelic Zucco? A once known character actor, he had nonetheless some leading roles; a few. And the intelligent, phlegmatic guy from BLACK RAVEN suits daddy Zucco just well. A nice lead in a short, rapid flick, in a very humble and unassuming class of mystery flicks. They ask average competence (and no budget) to make for average fun. At least they sometimes had the decency to secure a notable lead—a Karloff, a Lugosi or at least a Zucco or other 'B' glory. Such flicks are no cinema—just like a newspaper isn't literature; it's stuff to be consumed. It's useless to rate them; they're just their class. For something smarter, check elsewhere.

BLACK RAVEN is a short flick about a tempestuous evening near the Canadian border. Zucco plays the owner of the place where all the characters gather and a plot is dressed up. This mystery movie has nothing even remotely original or memorable—just a short story shortly told. You know I have found a kind word for other flicks of this class—in previous comments—and I'll oblige this time too, basically repeating my recommendation—if rightly assessed, BLACK RAVEN offers what's expected from this genre. Not to be preferred to anything else.

But if you were expecting in any way something better, or classier, then, my lad, get the freak out of here!

"You've probably noticed there's a bad storm going on, anything could happen".

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 1 August 2009]

Here's a perfect movie for a dark and stormy night, primarily because it takes place on a, well, dark and stormy night. The atmosphere of this flick might be it's best recommendation, with the added emphasis of a washed out bridge and travelers stranded at the Black Raven Inn. Great atmosphere throughout, even if you have to strain through some of the scenes where it's so dark you can't tell what's going on - part of it's charm so to speak.

George Zucco does the lead honors for this PRC programmer, with an unusual assist by veteran 'B' movie and TV Western character actor Glenn Strange. Strange is strange as a comedic foil, out of character for him so his bits fall flat, even as he tumbles down a set of stairs a couple of times. Byron Foulger is well cast in his role as a milquetoast bank cashier on the lam with a fifty grand stash of stolen money. That provides him with all the motivation he needs to pull off a murder that you might see coming - but then you might not - as there are plenty of suspects in the death of businessman/gangster Tim Winfield (Robert Middlemass). Did anyone else think it just a bit odd that Winfield wound up at the exact same hotel on the Canadian border as his runaway daughter and fiancée?

Speaking of which, I found it curious but appropriately correct for the era to have Lee Winfield (Wanda McKay) and Allen Bentley (Robert Livingston) sign in as guests for separate rooms, since they weren't married yet. You know, they could have just as easily been returning from Canada as newlyweds, and could have used that as a ruse to really freak out old man Winfield. That would have been something, huh?

I've read on some of the other posts that this is a hard one to get hold of, but it's just one of many on a great sixty DVD/two hundred fifty film box set from Mill Creek Entertainment as part of their Mystery Collection. It's tucked way back in the latter third of the package, but worth picking out for an early look see. If it's a dark and stormy night, your timing will be perfect.

George Zucco: Good Guy, Sort Of.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 2 April 2014]

Zucco, with his British accent, was usually a heavy -- a mad scientist or Professor Moriarty. Here, he's a man more or less of probity, although he has a secret past involving cheating his partner and seeing that the partner is convicted and sent up for the embezzlement. Now, however, Zucco runs a legitimate boarding house near the Canadian border.

During a terrific thunderstorm that drenches the plastic studio greenery, all the bridges to Canada are washed away and a number of guests pile up at Zucco's Black Raven Inn, mostly escapees from the states. They're a diverse lot.

First to show up is Zucco's ex partner, recently escaped from the slams and now ready to take violent revenge on Zucco. Next, a mousy clerk, Bryan Foulger, who has several thousand dollars he stole from the bank where he worked as a teller. A sneering gangster wanted for murder shows up and demands that Zucco arrange his transport across the border. Then an innocent young couple who have just eloped and are headed towards another country where they will be free of the interference of the girl's rich and nasty father. The rich and nasty father shows up last and makes a great pain of himself because, by coincidence, he owns the bank that Foulger, the timid teller, has fleeced and now he wants the money back.

The angry, domineering bank owner is the first to go, by unknown hands. The movie's pace is so fast that his daughter isn't given any chance to grieve. Nobody else is particularly upset either. Everyone seems to have a motive to bash him in the head. A determined sheriff, who seems to have the IQ of a parsnip, shows up and recklessly blames the young would-be groom. But another murder takes place, and then another.

It's nice to see George Zucco as a reasonable and half-way decent man, miscreant though he may be. But he puts little into the role. He's wooden, machine processed. The others -- all of them -- act like actors being paid to act in a low-budget B movie produced by PRC studios, which is not MGM. I kept thinking of what someone like James Mason would have done with the role.

The young girl is Wanda McKay who had been a model and never did develop much of a movie career, probably because she changed her birth name, Quackenbush, which would have been memorable. She's cute as hell though. The groom's haste in getting her across the border is understandable.

And the atmosphere is appealing -- a windy downpour beating against the windows and everyone trapped inside the inn. The set dresser, alas, didn't exert himself. The interior of the inn itself isn't very spooky and apart from one or two conspicuous shadows, the lighting is flat and uninspired.

Watch it when you can't sleep and are too dopey to care.

basic stage fare mystery

[drystyx · 5/10 · 9 July 2011]

This is the sort of film that is more of a stage play, meant to showcase talents of up and comers in schools and community theaters.

It is a basic mystery in a secluded area, with shady characters to serve as suspects, including a cliché young hero and heroine. Unfortunately, the romance is gone from this one, as the pair already are engaged before we meet them. Instead of the romantic older film plot of boy meets girl, it is the modern movie plot of boy already has girl. We know the modern movie anti-romance plot is because movies are often viewed by couples who already met. The industry today is based on placating the already decided couple instead of single men.

So the movie has the "atmosphere" elements of the old stage play mystery mixed with modern commercialism.

The comic relief character is usually what makes these movies watchable, and here "Andy" does a credible job of comic relief. He is both engaging and entertaining. He helps to make the movie flow.

The story flows much better than most such movies, particularly the modern ones. There isn't anything memorable, just good popcorn and soda fun.

strange happenings at the hotel

[myriamlenys · 6/10 · 15 May 2023]

"The Black Raven", situated near the American/Canadian border, is the only hotel for miles around. In spite of its respectable appearance it is run by an ageing criminal who can organize a discreet crossing into Canada - for a consideration, of course. While a wide-ranging storm floods roads and bridges, ever more people congregate in the hotel, for a variety of reasons...

"The Black Raven" is a mystery thriller about the strange goings-on in an isolated hotel. The movie is a decent little timewaster with some original touches. Prepare for multiple storylines including, among others, an escaped convict longing for revenge, a couple of lovers trying to escape the grip of a domineering parent and a mousy little bookkeeper clutching a most interesting satchel... Sadly the supposedly comic accents don't work that well. This is one of those thrillers that might have worked better without any attempt at comic relief.

The movie includes a bit of a redemption arc for the ageing hotel owner. I'm not sure that I buy it, psychologically speaking.

Fun fact : in Turkmenistan, the legal limit for characters tumbling down cellar stairs is fixed at three.

Scaring up something to eat....or is it someone?

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 17 September 2015]

"You'll have to turn back! The bridge is washed out!" This is always followed by the friendly suggestion, "You can always stay at the Black Raven right down the street" With that raven's feather in his cap, the man turning drivers back sends these poor travelers possibly to their doom to this dark inn run by George Zucco. Among the travelers are a couple eloping against the will of her father and a single middle aged accountant heading to Canada on vacation. Before long, the bride to be (Wanda McKay) is confronted by her pompous father (Robert Middlemass) who also recognizes the single accountant (Byron Foulger) as an accused embezzler. Bizarre creeping figures make for a spooky evening as thunder and lightening darken the rain-soaked night. It's the spooky Glenn Strange lurking in the hallways, frightening Foulger while Zucco offers support to McKay's groom-to-be (Noel Madison). It's no shock when Middlemass is found dead, discovered right after the spooky music utilized in several PRC horror films is played over and over again.

Cheezy fun, this dimly lit "Old Dark Inn" horror yarn is thrilling and short with the perfect atmosphere for murder and mayhem. I can just hear the director on the wind and rain machine barking "Faster!" to the technical workers on the set. "Oh dear, how did this happen?", suspect Foulger asks to which Zucco dryly replies, "Obviously, somebody didn't like him!" Zucco gets some really funny lines, telling one of his paranoid staff members, "With your mind, you could see the statue of liberty doing a conga!" Veteran film villain Charles Middleton goes onto the right side of the law for a change to play the sheriff, but when it comes down to it, on a dark and stormy night, anybody could have done it! There are a lot of patches of simply the suspects roaming around the hotel as the music plays with no dialog at all, and although this slows it down a bit, it really doesn't matter. It's all over in an hour, giving chills, laughs and overall, a memorably macabre atmosphere that ends up being harmless fun.

See "The Black Raven" on The Roan Group's Edition

[MarcoAntonio1 · 10/10 · 5 August 2005]

Many people have found that most DVD editions of "The Black Raven" to be too dark in places and of overall poor quality. I've found a nice, bright restored version of it on a triple feature DVD called Black & Blue Collection which is available through the Roan Group.com. It's compiled with "Black Dragons" and the most perfect copy of "Bluebeard" that I've ever seen (other DVD's of "Bluebeard" on the market are too grainy, edited or have bad sound). Anyway, "The Black Raven" focuses on a group of people who are trying to get over the Canadian border for different reasons but are forced by a rainstorm and washed-out bridges to spend the night at the shadowy Black Raven Inn. The film has plenty of old dark house atmosphere plus the effective relentless howling of the wind and the pounding of the rain. George Zucco and Wanda McKay give good performances in this intriguing murder mystery. Enjoy it in its most perfect DVD edition. It really makes a difference!

Good Fun

[artpf · 7/10 · 16 October 2013]

A group of strangers are brought together in an old, dark house and must contend with two murders and $50,000 in stolen money.

These dark, moody, creepy mysterious movies apparently were the rage back in the early 40s. There are tons of them. Even Abbott & Costello made a couple!

This one is no exception. Lots of shadowy things going on. These types of films may have originated from some English live theatre that are still popular to this day in London. Unsure. Even WC Fields has a line in a movie where he turns a picture into a "drawing room drama!" It's a very watchable movie.

The down side is that available prints are not so pristine. You can actually see the celluloid warping while you watch!

Quote the Black Raven, Somewhat of a Snore

[Mike-764 · 4/10 · 30 April 2003]

A menagerie of persons converge at the Black Raven hotel, run by a man who makes a second living helping criminals escape over the US/Canadian border. When one of the guests is killed, and $50,000 is stolen from his posession, who did it? This done to death premise should have worked, even by PRC standards, but the second half of the film just consists of the characters running all over the hotel and basically by the film's end, the audience has to feel disinterested. However, with all the rain, it does make for a average movie, and Byron Foulger as usual, is fun to watch as the meekish bank teller on the run from the law. Strange & Middleton seem to be miscast, respectively, as the comic relief & sheriff, and Zucco just seems to be wooden as the hotel owner. Rating- 4.