House of Darkness (1943) Archives

Frenzy aka Latin Quarter (1945)

Derrick DeMarney as Charles Garrie & Joan Greenwood as Christine, a Ballet dancer/artist’s Model star in this rare ghost story about a Bluebeard-type mad sculptor Manetti (Beresford Egan whose hair style & beard is frightening enough!), and his beautiful wife Christine who haunts her lover Charles in order to get at the truth! Very atmospheric and creepy obscure horror, including a séance!… thanks to director Vernon Sewell (Black Widow 1951 Ghost Ship 1952)

House of Darkness (1948)

A very young Laurence Harvey is the greedy and twisted pianist Francis Merryman who wants the family inheritance and the house all to himself! When he murders the violinist’s father John Merryman (Alexander Archdale) it seems to place a curse on the house in particular over Francis who descends into madness! The film also co-stars Leslie Brook. Directed by Oswald Mitchell of the Old Mother Riley series. Very nice touches that make this a pleasing little dark tale of greed and things that go bump in the night!

CapturFiles_3 — **The ghost of John comes back as a shadow on the wall, his accompanying Francis on Violin! Well done, Spooky stuff!**

The Vampire’s Ghost 1945

“Slave of the bloodlust!”

Director Lesley Selander (The Fatal Witness 1945, Catman of Paris 1945) In a small village near an African port, John Abbott plays a 400-year Vampire Webb Fallon who runs a seedy bar and scares the hell out of the surrounding villagers. This is a very well-paced and viable contribution to the vampire archetype. Charles Gordon is Roy Hendrick who falls under his control… the film also co-stars Peggy Stewart and Adele Mara as Lisa.

Catman of Paris 1946

Another taut and well-done tale of horror/suspense directed by Lesley Selander. There’s a vicious killer stalking Paris in 1896. Is he insane or can it truly be a supernatural cat that turns into a man with fangs and claws?

Meow!!!! Lenore Aubert (Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein 1948) plays the incredibly beautiful Marie Audet in love with writer Charles Regnier (Carl Esmond) who has just returned from his trip where he might have picked up something supernatural along the way… When the Ministry of Justice bans his book and winds up shredded to death, Inspector Severen (Gerald Mohr) and Fritz Field playing the Prefect of Police turn to Regnier as their lead suspect!