The Raven (1935) User Reviews

Madness begets madness.

[hitchcockthelegend · 8/10 · 15 October 2009]

Horror legends Karloff and Lugosi return after the success of The Black Cat the previous year in this deliciously warped slice of horror. Lugosi is sublime as the unhinged Dr Vollin who is coaxed out of retirement to save the life of a pretty dancer {Irene Ware as Jean Thatcher}. He does but in the process becomes infatuated with her and sets about having her all to himself. This spells bad news for her father, Judge Thatcher {Samuel S. Hinds} and her fiancé, Dr. Jerry Holden {Lester Matthews}. Enlisting the help of wanted criminal Edmond Bateman {Karloff} whom has been disfigured by Vollin with the promise of restoring his face, he plots to do away with the men in Jean's life down in his Edgar Allen Poe inspired torture chamber basement.

Running at just over one hour, The Raven simmers nicely as the characters form, and then boils to the surface for the furious last quarter. In the build up we have been royally treated to some truly excellent scenes as Vollin steadily grows more deranged. The unmasking of Bateman post surgery is unnerving, and thanks to Karloff's ability at making a criminal sympathetic, heartfelt. This is followed by a mirror sequence that is a horror highlight of the 30s and puts us in no doubt that Vollin is a terrifying creation. The creepy house setting is naturally a horror staple but one can't help wondering what a better director than Lew Landers could have made with the simple but effective premise? It's solid enough from Landers, some nice shadow play etc, but what stops it breaking out into genre classic status is its lack of a creeping menace type atmosphere. Which is a shame as it has a potent score from Clifford Vaughan. Still, The Raven is a fine genre piece showcasing two genuine icons, and in spite of its obvious simplicity and little flaws, ends triumphantly in a blaze of insanity and ironic cruelty. 8/10

Who's ready for some torture?

[lost-in-limbo · 8/10 · 9 June 2005]

Dr. Vollin (Lugosi) who's a Neurosurgeon with a large interest in Poe inspired torture comes out of retirement for a wealthy judge to save his daughter that was seriously injured in a auto wreck. During the recovery state the doctor falls for the girl and wants to marry her. Though, the doctor has a plan to torture his guests and with help from an unwillingly on the run murderer Bateman (Karloff) who's face was disfigured by the doctor when he wanted his face changed. So now he must do his biding or the doctor won't restore his face.

"The Raven" is a pretty good BW horror film that truly delivers the goods even though it's not particularly grand or inventive. It holds a fairly entertaining if rather routine narrative of clichés (stormy night in strange house). Though, you can't go wrong with a stormy night in a horror film. Saying that, it's the evoking presence of Karloff and Lugosi when on screen that makes it a great spectacle as there performances overshadow the rather foreseeable material or plot. For a mostly talkative film it doesn't have a sluggish feel and it moves at a rather brisk pace.

It had a ludicrous plot with some far-fetched scenario's (A quick recovery after surgery) and unintentionally humorous moments. After a real talkative first half about these amusing Poe torture designs we get to see them finally in use. It's too bad he used them towards the end, as not much torturing did happen, but mostly talk of these devices. Though, when it did happen there was a lot of imagination and interesting ideas. This is when the sudden thrills pick up in the last 20-mintues and it suddenly gets quite claustrophobic further along the film goes. In which Dr. Vollin really tightens the screws in some energetic and upbeat scenes. These scenes aren't terribly suspenseful, but the confrontations between Bateman and Vollin are vibrantly compelling and the devices achieve such a horrific mood. The climax is rather grand too. The ending was rather sudden and you can say lame for my liking. Dialogue was a mix bad with some engaging dialogue from the leads coming across as poetic and other times it was rather stilted or just plain corny.

A rather enforcing and roaring music score surrounds and captures the terror superbly. The film is well shot and is very atmospheric indeed. There is such great use of shadow and lighting composition in the mansion and a superb layout of the dungeon with its torture devices. The storm helps the atmosphere to be effective too. Karloff's character with the disfiguring is treated with decent make-up effects and it really does keep you glued at staring at it.

Rather mundane performances from the cast except for the two strong central leads and maybe with the exception of Samuel S. Hinds as Judge Thatcher. It's definitely one of Lugosi's best performances as the sadistic Dr. Vollin. Lugosi gives us his usual evil grimaces and at times goes over-the-top in delivering the dialogue. While Borris Karloff gives a solid performance, but I wouldn't class it as one of his greatest. He shines as the demented criminal Edmond Bateman who's lurking around the house with great effect.

For me it was a competent shocker that holds some unforgettable scenes and performances.

Student of Poe

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 14 March 2012]

The Raven casts Bela Lugosi as a doctor who has retired into research into the medical field and into the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. Bela has painstakingly recreated the torture devices that Poe had written about in his stories and has decided it's time for some live experimentation.

What has brought that about was Judge Samuel S. Hinds who has begged and persuaded Bela Lugosi to come out of research and do a delicate bit of neurosurgery to save daughter Irene Ware's life. Not only does he save her life, but she's back and better than ever at her modern dance gig.

Irene Ware was a beautiful girl, in real life a beauty contest winner. No wonder Dr. Lugosi starts confusing her with the famous Lenore in Poe's The Raven. But she doesn't want anything to do with him. Never mind that, Lugosi invites several people over including Hinds and Ware and he's going to settle accounts with all of them Edgar Allan Poe style.

To help him Lugosi has Boris Karloff who is a criminal on the run who has been made truly hideous by some of Bela's surgery. Bela keeps Boris on a short lease saying he'll fix him if he'll aid and abet his mad scheme.

The Raven is strictly an actor's vehicle and if it weren't for the presence of those masters of Gothic horror Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in the cast, this film would not fly. But with them leading the cast The Raven moves up a few notches in ratings. The two of them work hard to sell this film and they succeed admirably.

Bela and Boris, Forevermore.

Lugosi is Incredible!

[BaronBl00d · 17 November 1999]

Karloff gets the top billing in this second feature pairing both horror stars, but it is Bela Lugosi all the way who steals each and every scene he is in. Lugosi is incredible in his over-the-top performance of a morbid, obsessed doctor and Poe aficionado. Each line he utters with flair and gusto, each movement an outrageous, maniacal gesture. He is truly a ham, and an enjoyable one at that. Karloff is quite good as a killer, and the only compassionate character in the story. He is disfigured by Lugosi, so he will kill for the mad doctor. One of the best scenes is Lugosi leaving his patient to see his handiwork. Karloff shoots through several mirrors after realizing the atrocities committed on him, and from a door in the roof of the room.....Lugosi peers through and laughs...laughs with coldness, cruelty, and hysteria. The rest of the film is devoted to Lugosi utilizing his Poe recreations of torture...and I must confess as an earlier reviewer noted that you really feel little sympathy for the other characters involved...and at one point I wanted the pendulum to win. You must see this film as it is the second best of the Karloff/Lugosi pairings...but it really is a Lugosi film.

The Mad Doctor

[lugonian · 6/10 · 19 October 2001]

"The Raven" (Universal, 1935), directed by Louis Friedlander (later Lew Landers), became the second official KARLOFF and LUGOSI teaming, and a worthy following at that. Although this production is a notch below their initial thriller, "The Black Cat" (Universal, 1934), in which both movies are suggested on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, none actually have story lines from either Poe's stories or poems. While Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were evenly matched in "The Black Cat," Lugosi dominates the story in "The Raven," and he is in rare form here.

Like a "B" movie, for which is what this neat little thriller is, it gets right down to business and seldom slows down in its tight 60 minutes. Jean Thatcher (Irene Ware) has an auto accident that sends her to the hospital. Only one doctor can operate on her and save her life. His name is Doctor Richard Vollin (Bela Lugosi), a plastic surgeon and skilled surgeon, now retired. Judge Thatcher (Samuel S. Hinds), Jean's father, locates Vollin and pleads for his daughter's life. He agrees and performs a successful operation. Jean, a dancer by profession, learns that Vollin is a great admirer of Edgar Allan Poe, and to reward this great doctor, she arranges to have him attend her theatrical comeback in which she performs a dance to the narration of Poe's THE RAVEN, much to Vollin's delight. Vollin admits his love for Jean, but informs him that although she is grateful to him for her life, she is engaged to marry Jerry Halden (Lester Matthews). Even Judge Thatcher notices Vollin to not be in his right mind, and decides to pay him a visit to his home to advise him to stay away from Jean, and leaves. But Vollin doesn't take warnings too lightly. Quite conveniently, that very night, Edmond Bateman (KARLOFF), a bearded murderer who has recently escaped prison, pays Vollin a visit in hope that the famous plastic surgeon could perform an operation to change his face. Vollin at first refuses until Bateman tells him something quite profound: "Ever since I was born, everybody looks at me and says, 'You're ugly.' Makes me feel mean ... Maybe if a man looks ugly, he does ugly things." These words convince the doctor to go on with the operation and walking him through a secret panel that leads him to an operating room downstairs. Following the surgery, Bateman is changed into a hideous creature, and in order for him to have his face restored, Bateman finds he must do Vollin's evil bidding by becoming his servant, or better known as his "live-in slave." (One scene finds Bateman getting hit with Vollin's little whip when Vollin feels his orders are being disobeyed). Vollin then arranges to have Jean, Jerry, Judge Thatcher and some other guests to spend the weekend in his home, unaware that they are to become victims of his torture devices in his chambers, all inspired by Poe. Because Vollin cannot have Jean as his wife, he has Bateman place her and Jerry in a room, closing the door where the couple are standing in the center as the walls are slowly closing in on them. Then the suspense really builds up to a nail biting conclusion.

"The Raven," may not be first-rate horror to some viewers, but it does offer Bela Lugosi's finest hour on film, a hammy performance to say the least. Possibly under the direction of either Tod Browning or James Whale, the premise would have been the same but their styles of strangeness and/or humor would have been more evident, giving the movie a different feel. In spite of his top-billing with surname only, KARLOFF's character arrives some 15 minutes from the start of the story. Although he, too, plays a villain, he becomes very much a victim as do Vollin's "house guests." One particular memorable moment occurs after the operation in which Bateman's bandages are removed from his face by Vollin. The mad doctor then leaves Bateman in the operating room alone. Vollin, in the room above, opens the curtains that had covered a series of full-length mirrors set into the wall. Bateman, to his horror, seeing the final results of his face, rushes from mirror to mirror. Furious, he takes out his gun and shoots each mirror one at a time as Vollin looks on and laughs sadistically. By the time the gun is aimed at Vollin, the gun is empty, leaving Bateman to shake his fist and make a growling sound like Karloff's Frankenstein's Monster from "Frankenstein" (1931).

In the supporting cast are Inez Courtney, Spencer Charters, Maidel Turner and Ian Wolfe as the other weekend guests of Vollin's home, adding some "comedy relief," with Arthur Hoyt as Mr. Chapman; Walter Miller as Vollin's butler; and Jonathan Hale briefly seen as the medical doctor in the hospital scenes.

"The Raven" is sure to delight horror fans, especially those who really don't take this type of horror stuff seriously and sit back and enjoy watching Karloff and Lugosi, two horror movie greats from the golden age of Hollywood. Once presented on the Sci-Fi Channel in the 1990s, and on American Movie Classics (1991 to 2001), it premiered on Turner Classic Movies May 18, 2003. "The Raven" is available on video cassette in two formats: One as a double featured package along with "The Black Cat," the other as a single. Both "The Black Cat" and "The Raven" include the same underscoring during its closing casting credits. (***, never more)

At Last Poe is Avenged!

[mmcclelland · 10/10 · 31 October 2000]

Bela Lugosi will always be remembered for Dracula -- but his biggest and wildest role was the Raven. He and Boris Karloff are co-stars but Bela steals the show as the mad surgeon, Dr. Vollin, who sees himself as a "god with the taint of human emotion." He has a Poe fetish and loves to torture as he has been tortured so he can clear his head and be, "the sanest man who ever lived."

This has one of the most horrific scenes ever filmed. After Dr. Vollin has disfigured the criminal (Boris Karloff) the criminal awakes in a room of mirrors and must stare at his hideous face--while Vollin laughs hysterically!

This is one of the few classic Universal horror films that actually gives genuine chills!

Lugosi steals the show in a still great film

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 7 March 2013]

There are many reasons to see The Raven, namely Edgar Allan Poe, Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. And it delivers on all the potential it promised, with only its, to me, too short length being any kind of a problem. The production values are striking with a nice Gothic atmosphere, while the score has a haunting sense of dread to it without making things too obvious. The way The Raven is written is remarkable, there are many Poe references that anybody will enjoy and Poe's poetic prose is captured perfectly in an affecting way. The atmosphere will send the hairs on your neck raising, and the film's horror elements are unusually sadistic. The acting doesn't undermine anything either, the supporting cast are solid, with Samuel H Hinds coming off best, but none really are in the same league as the two stars, both of whom are among the giants of the horror genre. Boris Karloff is both creepy and compassionate in his role as the scarred criminal, but it is Bela Lugosi's chillingly twisted performance that carries The Raven.

All in all, apart from the length, The Raven is a great film and well worth checking out. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff in The Raven was a most thrilling horror classic to me!

[tavm · 10/10 · 16 October 2009]

While I had watched them in The Body Snatcher years back, this is the first time I've seen Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff together as equals in one of their Universal features. In this one, Lugosi plays Dr. Richard Vollin who gets called out of retirement by one Judge Thatcher (Samuel S. Hinds) to heal his daughter Jean (Irene Ware) from a car accident. He does and instantly becomes smitten with her which becomes obvious to her father when he looks at them together. When Vollin admits to it, the judge forbids him from seeing her again especially since she's engaged to Dr. Jerry Halden (Lester Matthews). That doesn't sit well with the doctor who cured her so when escaped convict Edmond Bateman (Karloff) drops in, Vollin offers a quid-pro-quo...This was quite thrilling from beginning to end especially with all the references to many Edgar Allan Poe works and contraptions especially the one depicted in "The Pit and the Pendulum". Director Louis Friedlander really puts the stops that truly had me riveted the whole way through. And the score is just what one would expect from these melodramatic old school horror movies of this period. As old-fashioned as this movie may seem to some modern viewers, to me this was still an edge-of-your-seat thriller that holds up today. So on that note, I very highly recommend this version of The Raven.

A mad doctor who also has an obsessive penchant for Edgar Allen Poe plans a grisly revenge

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 20 February 2013]

Nice horror film suggested by Poe's immortal stories , thanks mainly to fortuitous teaming of terror kings as Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi . A brilliant surgeon obsessed with Poe saves the life of a beautiful dancer and goes mad when he can't have her . But while this lunatic surgical genius chanted "The Raven," horrible screams rose up from his torture chamber below . The gloomy surgeon (Bela Lugosi) has a dungeon full of torture gadgets inspired by Edgar Allen Poe stories , then he is begged by a judge (Samuel Hinds) to save his daughter's life . The eccentric neurological surgeon does and then falls in love for the beautiful girl (Irene Ware) but she's already engaged . The nutty doctor recruits a wanted criminal (Boris Karloff), and turns him into a hideous monster . Meanwhile , the dull doctor invites a group of guests (Lester Matthews , Charters, Courtney , and eternal secondary Ian Wolfe) at his dismal mansion

The script has very little to do with Edgar Allen Poes's tales , though the screen-writers do manage to squeeze in his pendulum torture from : The pit and the pendulum and Poe's Raven . This is a quickie professionally realized by Lew Landers , an expert in rapid pictures that rarely ran longer than 70 minutes ; although here he stands out and it is among his most forceful and fastest works. Lew Landers began directing features in the mid-'30s under his real name of Louis Friedlander, but changed it to Lew Landers after several films , his first effort, The Raven , was probably his best. The movie belongs to a group of a few of the bargain-basement horrors that Lew Landers directed for Universal Pictures , including production designer Albert D'Agostino , all of them in low-budget , starred by terror stars and have a certain hypnotic fascination such as ¨Return of the vampire¨ , ¨The ghost that walks alone¨ ,¨The mask of Diijon¨ and of course this ¨The raven¨. Bela Lugosi is at his prime in this character as a mad doctor who when is rejected he plans vendetta in his chamber of horror and good acting by terror master Karloff as a criminal who winds up ruining the mad doctor's schemes . Several inconsistencies in the somewhat twisted screenplay can be overlooked because of their chilling acting by the classic horror duo , Lugosi and Karloff .

The motion picture was well directed by Lew Landers , rivaling Sam Newfield and William Beaudine as one of the American film industry's most prolific directors, The Raven was his first feature made under his real name . Landers galloped his way around 130 movies , called quickfire and almost none of them exceeding 80 minutes , they have nearly all vanished into the mists of time now . It would be nice to record that Lew's output as one of the most prolific filmmakers in the field is studded with undiscovered treasures . Lew Landers got into filming serials with Universal , the first of them ¨Tailspin Tommy¨ and ¨Parole¨ , then the studio moved him on to features and he began his long career . Landers spent a lot of time at RKO and Columbia turning out low-budget adventure epics, thrillers and westerns . Towards the final of his shooting days , Landers became involved with all types of frivolities in a variety of strange color process as SuperCinecolor , filming several adventure films such as ¨Last of the Bucaneers , Blue blood , Captain Kidd and the slave girl , Captain John Smith and Pochahontas¨ and his most important ¨California conquest¨ . In the 1950s he turned to series television, as many of his fellow B directors did, and alternated between that and features for the remainder of his career , for that reason Landers was extremely busy in TV episodes until his early death at 60 years old .

Frankula/Drackenstein

[lee_eisenberg · 5/10 · 17 June 2005]

This movie is not actually based on Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem, but there is a Poe connection. Bela Lugosi plays Dr. Richard Vollin, who has a number of torture devices based on things from Poe's stories, including a pendulum. When hired to make an injured woman pretty again, Vollin agrees, but envisions her as his bride. Hoping to make this a reality, Vollin takes homely Bateman (Boris Karloff) and makes him very ugly so as to blackmail him into carrying out evil deeds.

"The Raven" is mostly pretty pedestrian. The horror mainly comes from Lugosi's demeanor and Karloff's looks (I guess that those were always what really made their movies intense, if at all succeeding there). But it's neat just to see Lugosi and Karloff in a movie together.

Poe fans will be puzzled, Lugosi fans delighted!

[Infofreak · 25 August 2003]

'The Raven' seems like it was trying to recreate the success (artistically) of Edward G. Ulmer's 'The Black Cat' released the previous year. Once again horror legends Karloff and Lugosi are teamed up in a movie supposedly inspired by Edgar Allen Poe. Of course it has nothing much to do with Poe apart from Lugosi reciting Poe's poem once or twice and having his own private version of 'The Pit And The Pendulum' in his basement. 'The Raven' isn't as inspired and as downright strange as 'The Black Cat' but it's still very good. Karloff receives top billing but this is Lugosi's movie all the way. He plays a brilliant surgeon and Poe buff who is talked into saving the life of a beautiful young girl (Irene Ware). He then becomes obsessed by her and when he can't get what he wants decides to punish her, her fiance (Lester Matthews) and her father (Samuel S. Hinds). Along the way he has turned criminal Karloff into a disfigured monster and forces him to help. Lugosi is really terrific as the mad surgeon and his performance will delight his fans. Recommended.

Largely Unknown Lugosi-Karloff Film

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 12 October 2010]

A surgeon (Bela Lugosi) has an unhealthy obsession with torture and Edgar Allan Poe. After developing a lust for a friend's daughter, he hires a wanted criminal (Boris Karloff) to kill off anyone who stands in his way. Fright, bondage and lunacy ensue.

The first thing we really need to say about this film is that it has pretty much nothing to do with Poe's "Raven". There is an interpretive dance sequence, and the general inspiration is Poe, but this is by no means a retelling of the poem. However, I happen to find that a relief, as there just is not enough in that poem to carry a feature film.

The modern reviews are not sympathetic. The movie is "hammy but occasionally effective" according to Howard Maxford. Even less forgiving, we hear that it's a "real disappointment", full of "unintentional humor" from Mike Mayo. These words are unfortunate, and I hope that no one is scared away from the film because of them.

I watched this film on the big screen at the Music Box Theater in Chicago, and was very pleasantly surprised with it. Aside from seeing Lugosi and Karloff together, that "unintentional humor" kept the audience amused, and the basic plot is solid. If I had to make any complaint, it is the inconsistency in the pendulum's height. But that's just being picky.

Seriously, give this film a go. Quality production, good story, good acting... maybe it's "hammy", I don't know. I found myself really impressed and I'm glad that the Chicago horror crew decided upon this film for presentation.

A genuine chiller. A shocker in its time...still shakin'.

[michaelRokeefe · 8/10 · 13 October 2001]

When originally released it was described as hideous, guilty of gore and down right vulgar with its presentation of torture. This is a full fledged classic horror flick. The torturous intent still makes this movie scary. And I absolutely love the obligatory thunder and lightning storm. It makes for a true creepy atmosphere. Two major stars that had a legendary loathing of each other; all the part of right ingredients for pleasurable schlock shock.

Bela Lugosi is Dr. Richard Vollin, who is a notable plastic surgeon that is obsessed with Edgar Allen Poe and loves building torture devices. Boris Karloff plays a criminal that comes to Dr. Vollin for a change of appearance. Vollin disfigures him in order to blackmail him into helping torture another doctor.

This is arguably Lugosi's greatest performance. He steals the movie from Karloff, who always seems to get top billing and the higher salary. Also in the cast are Irene Ware, Samuel S. Hinds and Lester Matthews. Hot buttered popcorn and a big mug of cocoa will ease the chills.

One of Bela Lugosi's finest performances...

[jluis1984 · 7/10 · 21 June 2007]

Actors Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff are definitely two of the most easily recognizable names in the history of the horror genre, and not without a reason, as their iconic performances as the title characters in Universal Studios' 1931 classics, "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" respectively, truly added a lot of power to those legendary films and transformed them into stars. Given the attraction both actors had on the audiences, the obvious next step was to put them together in another horror film and the result was 1934's masterpiece, "The Black Cat", a classic film inspired by the works of writer Edgar Allan Poe that became the first of eight movies where the two legends would share the screen. The following year, Universal gave young serial director Lew Landers the job of making another Poe-inspired horror film with the two legends.

Contrary to what the title may imply, "The Raven" is not an adaptation of Poe's classic poem, but the story of a man obsessed with the legendary writer. That man is Dr. Richard Vollin (Bela Lugosi), a neurosurgeon of enormous talents who one night is called out of retirement by the wealthy judge Thatcher (Samuel S. Hinds), who wants Vollin to operate his daughter, a famous dancer named Jean Thatcher (Irene Ware) who suffered brain damage after a terrible auto wreck. Vollin reluctantly accepts and miraculously saves the girl's life, but after Jean's recovery he discovers that he is now in love with the dancer. Sadly, Jean rejects him in favor of her fianceé, Dr. Jerry Holden (Lester Matthews), and this event makes Vollin to decide to take revenge on the Thatchers. To achieve this, Vollin will use an escaped convict named Edmond Bateman (Boris Karloff) to do the dirty work.

Written by David Boehm (with Universal's assortment of usual collaborators), "The Raven" is a dark tale of revenge that, while having a plot completely different to the poem that inspired it, effectively manages to keep the themes of obsession and insanity so characteristic of the classic poem. Boehm's screenplay is actually quite fascinating, as by focusing entirely in the villains it manages to develop a complex psychology for the characters played by Lugosi and Karloff. As in "The Black Cat", the development of their characters is exceptional (specially considering the film's short runtime), and the movie features some of the best dialog exchanges in a Universal horror film. Vollin's obsessive fascination with Poe and torture devices is explored extensively in the script, resulting in a very dark and violent film, in the spirit of 1932's "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (also starring Lugosi).

Director Lew Landers takes a very restrained and straightforward approach to the story, as if he was limiting himself to simply shoot what is on the script. While his work with the film isn't really bad in the strict sense of the word, it is certainly bland and a bit uninspired, as at times he fails to capture the dark atmosphere of the story and leaves the film as nothing more than a typical horror of those years. Despite this uneven work of direction, Landers manages to create some interesting scenes that thanks to the excellent cinematography by Charles J. Stumar (in one of his last works before dying in a plane crash), seem to deliver some of the spirit of Boehm's creepy tale. While his camera-work is a bit average, his dealing with actors is without faults, as Landers truly gets the best out of his cast.

Bela Lugosi's talent for acting has always been questioned given the poor choices of roles he made when his health got worse and became type-casted as a villain. However, "The Raven" is an irrefutable proof that the legendary horror icon could be perfect in the adequate role. As the sadistic Dr. Vollin, Lugosi's talent shines without problem and manages to overshadow everyone in the cast, including his usual "rival" Boris Karloff (himself another very talented actor). As the dangerous criminal Edmond Bateman, Karloff is very effective despite his somewhat limited screen time, and he manages to be both frightening and sympathetic. Character actor Samuel S. Hinds delivers his usual good work as Judge Thatcher, and Irene Ware is equally delightful as Jean. Lester Matthews is probably the weakest link, but to his favor I can say that his character was terribly underdeveloped.

It's a true shame that Lew Landers' hadn't taken Boehm's story to its full potential, as easily the movie could had been as good as the previous year's "The Black Cat"; however, this could be blamed on Landers' lack of experience in this kind of movies, as his style shows a lot of the influence he got by directing serials ("The Raven" was his first feature film). Anyways, as written above, this shouldn't be seen as a bad thing, just a slight criticism on the missed chance to create a horror masterpiece out of this script. Still, this is no reason to dismiss this film as Lugosi's performance in the movie is certainly something to be seen, as it ranks as one of his best along his work in "White Zombie", "The Mystery of the Marie Celeste" and the aforementioned movie, "The Black Cat".

While nowhere near the better known classics by Universal, "The Raven" still manages to capture a bit of that magic that made those early sound horror films an unforgettable landmark in the history of horror. It's kind of sad that Lugosi's career started its slow downfall in the years after this movie, as this 30s classics show the enormous talent that was in the person of the iconic Hungarian actor. Despite not being faithful to Poe's work, with this film one can agree with Dr. Vollin's words: "Poe, you are avenged". Avenged indeed. 7/10

Bela Lugosi - Genius Of Insanity!

[Witchfinder-General-666 · 8/10 · 21 October 2008]

"The Raven" of 1935 is arguably the second to greatest pairing of Horror icons Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff (the most memorable being "The Black Cat" of 1934). While both men are doubtlessly immortal deities of Horror cinema that most true Horror lovers would name as personal favorites, "The Raven" is primarily a Lugosi film. Karloff is also brilliant (as always) in his role, but his role in this film is not as significant as that of Lugosi, who dominates the screen with genius and insanity throughout the film. Comparable only to "White Zombie" of 1932 (still my choice for the greatest Lugosi film) and "Dracula" of 1931, this film proves what a unique screen presence Lugosi had. The great Bela plays Dr. Richard Vollin, an ingenious and eccentric doctor who is obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe. When a wealthy judge sees no other way to save his daughter (Irene Ware), a beautiful young dancer, he approaches Vollin for help, unaware that Poe is not the only obsession of the brilliant physician...

Bela Lugosi owns the film from the first second of his appearance. Lugosi's Dr. Vollin is, simply put, one of the most ingenious portrayals of diabolical insanity ever given, and that makes the film an absolute must-see for every Horror fan. Karloff is an additional reason to see this film, and even though his role could have been a bit bigger, he is masterly in the role of the sidekick. The rest of the performances are good as well, but, of course, they pale beside the greatness of the film's two stars. The cinematography is another great aspect about "The Raven". The film, which comes along with a brilliantly eerie classical score, is shot in a wonderfully eerie tone, which accentuates the film's genuine creepiness and brilliantly insane atmosphere. The most memorable aspect, however, remains the brilliant performance of Bela Lugosi. Roles like this one make Lugosi and immortal icon of cinema, and "The Raven" a must-see for every lover of film. Highly recommended!

Ugly people do ugly things.

[ilpohirvonen · 7/10 · 10 February 2010]

I saw The Raven (1935) directed by Louis Friedlander (directed under the name Lew Landers after the year 1936) yesterday in theaters. Because I'm very interested in old horror films, especially on the "precode era" films (movies before the year 1934). I found it very entertaining, funny, touching, all together enjoyable.

The title of the film might make the viewer think this movie is based on Edgar Allan Poe's Raven, but actually the references from it remain low; Death, Gothic romance and of course The Raven statue, it has got the main elements from it. But The Raven took a lot of influences from another book by Poe, The Pit and The Pendulum.

The plot is pretty simple: Dr. Vollin (Bela Lugosi) is a Poe-fanatic and has a remarkable collection of his books. But what makes him special is that he also has a dungeon of his own. A dungeon that is copied from Poe's The Pit and The Pendulum to every single detail. A man needs Vollin's help, because her daughter has injured in a car-crash. Another man (Boris Karloff) seeks for Vollin's help as well. He's a criminal and needs a plastic-surgery for his face. Dr. Vollin agrees to help the man, if he does a favor for him.

Those are the basic ingredients for this exciting horror film. It follows a basic scheme: There's a bad guy who wants to kill and torture people, a young woman and her husband to add some romantic excitement, a sympathetic victim (marvelously played by Boris Karloff). This must be the only film by the couple (Lugosi & Karloff) where Lugosi got the bigger part.

Boris Karloff gives a lot of sympathy to his character, Edmond Bateman as he did earlier in 1931 as Frankenstein. He looks strange and everyone is afraid of him. Where Dr. Vollin looks rich and powerful, so everyone thinks he's a good man. A very touching scene in the film was when Bateman says to Vollin: "Maybe when people are ugly, they do ugly things.." So in spite of the high entertainment level, this movie also deals with prejudice and superficiality.

Highly recommended to everyone interested in old Horror films, highly entertaining, superb acting ( I have always enjoyed the acting of the precode films, there's something funny and marvelous about it ) and an exciting plot.

The film entails some great scenes from these two legendary actors. Karloff makes his famous "grr!" yell. And we hear Lugosi's evil laugh.

7/10

"Poe, you are avenged!"

[utgard14 · 8/10 · 20 February 2014]

Third and final movie in the trilogy of Edgar Allan Poe-themed horror films Bela Lugosi did for Universal in the 1930s. Also the second movie in which Lugosi and Karloff appear together. Lugosi plays a Poe-obsessed surgeon named Dr. Vollin, who is begged by a judge (Samuel S. Hinds) to save the life of the judge's daughter (Irene Ware), a dancer who suffered brain damage in a car accident. Vollin agrees and manages to perform the surgery successfully. Then he becomes fixated with the girl but her father steps in and tells him that's not going to happen. Vollin crafts a vicious revenge plan on the father, daughter, and her fiancé (Lester Matthews). To this end he forces wanted criminal Edmond Bateman (Boris Karloff) to help him, by disfiguring his face and refusing to fix it unless he assists in helping Vollin torture his victims!

Tour-de-force performance from Bela Lugosi in this one. A rare case of Lugosi outperforming Karloff. Lugosi's wild, over-the-top Dr. Vollin is so much fun to watch. Karloff is good, too, but Lugosi's part is much juicier. He's just off-the-rails here, laughing like a lunatic over the thought of torturing people! The highlight in all of the insanity is seeing Lugosi shout "Poe, you are avenged!" What exactly Poe is avenged of, I'm not sure, but I was loving every minute of it! I actually found myself rooting for this madman to win. That's how good Lugosi is in this. The rest of the cast is fine, with no one hitting a false note. But it's really a one-man show. Boris does good with what screen time he has, his face partially obscured by first a beard then some Jack Pierce makeup to show his disfigurement. He lets out a Frankenstein grunt at one point that I found amusing.

If you're a Lugosi fan, this is for you. He's clearly having a great time with the role, especially the parts where he gets to taunt Karloff. You just know Bela loved that. For everybody else, don't go into this expecting something like The Black Cat. That film was more artistic. This is just sheer popcorn fun with one of the greatest personalities in horror films showing off in grand style.

Karloff and Lugosi team up for some more weirdness...

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 2 February 2023]

...from Universal Pictures and director Lew Landers. Lugosi gets the bigger role as the brilliant surgeon Dr. Richard Vollin who is now in retirement to "conduct research" and indulge in his Edgar Allan Poe memorabilia hobby. He's brought back into the operating room to perform a delicate surgery on the beautiful Jean Thatcher (Irene Ware) who suffered neck injuries in a car crash. The surgery is successful, but the already unbalanced Vollin develops an unhealthy obsession with Jean, who is engaged to marry another. Vollin sees a chance at solving that problem when criminal Edmond Bateman (Boris Karloff) begs the doctor to perform plastic surgery on him so that he can start a new life. Instead, Vollin disfigures Bateman in an effort to blackmail him into killing Vollin's love rival. In fact, Vollin seems to hate everybody associated with Irene.

The plot is goofy and convoluted, and neither Lugosi nor Karloff's characters make much sense. Lugosi has a basement full of torture devices that he's built because of his Poe obsession, including a pendulum blade. Bela gets to express a lot of emotion in this one, but he's not quite as convincing as he was in the previous The Black Cat. Karloff gets to be sympathetic again, although his makeup is silly rather than horrifying. I still enjoyed this one, but while it's played with a straight face, it's best not to take it too seriously.

This movie is torture

[evilskip · 3/10 · 31 August 1999]

Well here is another "classic" revered by many.We have Bela Lugosi as Dr Richard Vollin, Boris Karloff as killer Edmond Bateman and a forgettable cast.

When Judge Thatcher's daughter Jean is terribly injured in an auto accident even her fiance Dr Hardin is helpless.Her only hope is the brilliant but eccentric Dr Richard Vollin.We see Vollin browbeating a mousy museum official.Dr Vollin is a fanatical admirer of Poe and a retired surgeon.He has even built a few torture devices based on the works of Poe.So you know he is just a little on the loony side.He refuses to help Jean Thatcher until the Judge begs him.

Vollin saves Jean and falls in love with her. Jean has strong feeling for Vollin but her father interferes and really p----s Vollin off. They have strong words and Vollin snaps.

Edmond Bateman shows up at Vollin's door. The mad dog killer wants a new face.Vollin will do it only if Bateman does a "job" for him.Vollin disfigures the killer and promises to restore his face after he does the job for him.

After arranging for Jean, Jerry and the Judge (and a few other people out of nowhere) to spend a weekend at his home the "thrills" begin. The Judge is strapped to a pendulum and Jerry & Jean are put in a room with the walls sliding together.Will they survive?

WHO CARES?The only sympathetic character is Bateman and he's a killer.You don't feel for the Thatchers as Jean is a lame brain and her Dad is a snob. Jerry is about as interesting as patio furniture.The comic relief and other cast members are incidental to the plot.

While critics trumpet this as Lugosi's greatest role other than Dracula I beg to differ.Check out Black Cat or his performances as Ygor.In this movie he overacts and chews up the scenery.Yes he is supposed to be mad but you either wince or giggle when he is onscreen.The dialogue is horrible."Poe! You are avenged!"From what?

Boring characters and wild over acting doom this film.Sorry, no better than a 3.This is not a classic!

Great fun with Lugosi stealing the spotlight as mad surgeon...

[Doylenf · 29 October 2003]

BELA LUGOSI never had a role that made better use of his stylized ham emoting than his mad surgeon here. The camera holds him in close-ups that emphasize the penetrating gaze and knitted eyebrows as he obsesses about an attractive woman he wishes to marry.

He steals every scene he's in with his heavy emphasis on certain words and his inflection that has menace in every syllable. By comparison, Boris Karloff (top-billed) has a cameo role that he plays with his usual skill, managing to get some sympathy for a basically unsympathetic character--a man who served time as a killer. Between the two of them, they create a minor thriller that is the kind of horror film Universal was famous for in the '30s.

Lugosi being a man obsessed by Edgar Allen Poe's torture devices in stories like 'The Pit and the Pendulum', approaches every scene with relish, obviously delighted with his role as a surgeon who declares: "I love torture!" The plot, of course, is outrageously preposterous but just try to turn away as he puts into place his plan for the girl, her father and her fiance--as well as his servant Karloff.

None of it is believable, but it's all great fun in the tradition of Universal thrillers. Perfect for Halloween!!

Karloff and Lugosi Meet Again!

[bsmith5552 · 7/10 · 16 September 2005]

"The Raven" was the second of seven pairings of the popular horror stars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. The film was the only one of the six in which Lugosi had the dominant role.

A young dancer, Jean Thatcher (Irene Ware) is involved in a car accident in which she is seriously injured. She remains unconscious with the attending physicians unable to do anything. Her father, Judge Thatcher (Samuel S. Hinds) decides to go to the reclusive Dr. Richard Vollin (Lugosi) a renowned surgeon for help. Dr. Volin who is obsessed with the works of Edgar Allen Poe, at first refuses to help but later relents. He saves the girl but falls in love with her.

Judge Thatcher realizing what is happening, goes to the doctor to beg him not to pursue his daughter. Vollin in his maddened state refuses and secretly plots his revenge on the judge.

An escaped convict, Edward Bateman (Karloff) comes to Vollin asking that he change his facial appearance. To force the hapless convict to do his will, Vollin operates on Bateman giving him a grotesque appearance. Vollin promises that he will return Bateman's face to normal only if he will perform a certain service for him.

We also learn that the mad doctor has a Poe inspired torture chamber in his basement. Vollin arranges a reception in his home to which Jean, her stuffed shirt fiancé, Dr. Jerry Halden (Lester Matthews), Judge Thatcher and others are invited. Bateman takes pity on Jean but is forced to comply with Vollin's wishes. Bateman abducts Judge Thatcher and takes him to the torture chamber where Vollin secures him to a table over which is the swinging pendulum from "The Pit and the Pendulum". Vollin starts the swinging pendulum's gradual decent.

Meanwhile Vollin has lured the others to the torture chamber. He plans to murder Jean and her fiancé in a fit of madness. But Bateman seeing this.......................

Director Lewis Friedlander allows Lugosi to go a little over the top in his portrayal of the mad doctor. But all in all, Lugosi gives one of his most terrifying performances, Karloff in a limited role, contributes a couple of terrifying moments as the tragic Bateman. Running but a scant 61 minutes, the film appears to have been cut down. Karloff for example doesn't appear until a third of the way through the story, and even then he just seemingly appears out of nowhere. And we don't learn that Jean Thatcher is a dancer until after her life saving surgery.

Nevertheless, "The Raven" still ranks among the classic horror thrillers of the 1930's.

Boris & Bela Together Again

[sol1218 · 7/10 · 25 October 2004]

***SPOILERS*** Judge Thatcher, Samuel S. Hinds, pleads with the retired and highly respected surgeon Dr. Richard Vollin, Bela Lugosi, to save his pretty ballerina daughters Jean, Irene Ware,life. The great doctor goes out of retirement and not only saves Jean's life and restores her ability to walk, so she can dance again, he also falls insanely in love with her.

Dr. Vollin is also obsessed with the writer Edger Allen Poe who he considers his equal as a writer with his being a man of medicine and who in the end, like Dr. Vollin in the movie, went mad. Vollin built himself a dungeon in his basement filled with of all the torture equipment that Poe wrote about in his writings. Vollin later got escaped murderer Edmond Bateman (Karloff), I guess Boris was so famous by then he didn't need a first name, who he made to look even more vicious and horrific then he already was by surgically altering his looks and then used him to do his dirty work.

Dr. Vollin enraged at Judge Thatcher for disapproving his daughters hand in marriage, she was already engaged to the handsome doctor Jerry Halden (Lester Matthews), has a plan that he set for them at his residents by inviting them and some of their friends to stay over for the weekend. The Judge was not invited but he came anyway. What a stroke of luck for Dr. Vollin.

One of the eight movie that both Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff were in, if you also count the film "Gift of gab" in which they both had cameo appearances. "The Ravan" is one of Logosi & Karloff better collaborations with a pit and pendulum scene as well as a closing or squeezing room for the lucky young and soon to be married couple Jean & Jerry at the end of the movie.

Bela was really into his role here as the crazed Dr. Vollin who never takes no for an answer as he didn't with Jean's father the Judge as well as not a person to fool around with. Boris as the escaped convict Bateman was his usual crazy but likable self. Karloff or Bateman was just a victim of birth or circumstances by the way that he looked that made him the killer that he was. If he only looked like Cary Grant what a difference it would have made! In the end Bateman redeemed himself by saving everyone from Dr. Vollin's insane and murderous plan.

Doctor Torture & Thug Assistant

[Aegelis · 6/10 · 4 December 2022]

Some perks push this film into decency. Reasons to watch specifically are a few of the actors (the big names are big for a reason), some suspense, neat effects/designs, and a sprinkle of creativity.

Writing and directing started off well, but just past midway, the plot and rationale become a disheveled mess. Random screaming and actors not directly involved seemed to just stand around or have unaccounted for downtime. Except for an occasional nod by quote or item, there wasn't much Poe to be had. Our villain monologuing about why his actions would make sense from his favourite historical author's perspective made as much sense as a presidential campaign speech (in other words, not at all). Predictable ending was disappointing.

You Are Cordially Invited To Spend A Most Bizarre Evening With Mister Lugosi & Mister Karloff

[Ron Oliver · 10/10 · 16 June 2002]

Obsessed by THE RAVEN and other works of Edgar Allan Poe, a deranged doctor forces a disfigured killer into carrying out his nefarious schemes.

Boris Karloff & Bela Lugosi team up again in another Universal shocker. Although Karloff gets top billing, this is Bela's film, giving him the chance to pull out all the stops menacing the fair maiden, while threatening death & dismemberment to her father, fiancé and friends with invitations to visit his basement torture chamber.

As a contrast, Karloff wisely underplays his role, letting the despair of the doomed eloquently play across his ravaged features. The Boys' best scene together comes when Karloff gets his first horrified look at his new face, savagely shooting the mirrors in the doctor's operating chamber, while Lugosi, watching through a grill in the ceiling, laughs maniacally.

Good support is offered from Samuel S. Hinds as a sturdy judge; Irene Ware as his lovely daughter (her interpretive dance based on The Raven is most intriguing); and Ian Wolfe & Spencer Charters as Lugosi's house guests.

Although obviously made rather cheaply, it is still good to see Karloff & Lugosi in a film in which style and imagination are allowed to help create the appropriate mood.

Boris and Bela up to their old tricks again

[chris_gaskin123 · 8/10 · 6 June 2005]

This was the first feature length version of this story, based on a poem by Edgar Allen Poe.

A young woman has her life saved by a mad doctor who has an obsession for Edgar Allen Poe. He falls in love with her and invites her, her dad and her lover along with some other people to stay at his home for a weekend and would turn out to be the weekend from hell. They arrive and the doctor's servant is an escaped prisoner who wanted a new face but instead, the doctor turned him into a mutant. He would have his new face when his work was completed for the doctor. What these visitors don't know is that the doctor intends to use them, especially the woman and her dad for torture and the first victim, the dad is taken to the torture chamber in the basement and he is strapped down and a pendulum gradually moves on to him but he is rescued at the end. The woman and her lover are put in a room where the walls close in but the mutant turns the power off and they escape and the doctor is put in that room and crushed to death just as the police arrive.

The Raven has a lot of the things you would expect in this sort of movie: hidden doorways, secret passages and a thunderstorm.

Now to the cast: Excellent performances from Bela Lugosi as the doctor and Boris Karloff as the prisoner turned mutant. I'm not too familiar with the rest of the cast.

This movie is a must for all horror fans, especially if you like Boris and Bela. Excellent.

Rating: 4 stars out of five.