The Old Dark House
1932, Horror/Comedy, 1h 11m
28 Reviews 2,500+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
A deft blend of well-chosen ingredients, The Old Dark House is a delightfully scary horror comedy that benefits from James Whale's suspenseful direction. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Driving through a brutal thunderstorm in Wales, three travelers take refuge in an eerie house owned by the Femm family. Reluctantly admitted by Horace Femm (Ernest Thesiger), the three sit down to a strange dinner. Horace is neurotic; mute butler Morgan (Boris Karloff) is an alcoholic; and Horace's sister, Rebecca (Eva Moore), raves about chastity. When the storm brings in an industrialist and chorus girl Gladys DuCane Perkins (Lilian Bond), Morgan's lust and Rebecca's ire are ignited.
Cast & Crew
Boris Karloff
Morgan
Morgan
Melvyn Douglas
Penderel
Penderel
Charles Laughton
Sir William Porterhouse
Sir William Porterhouse
Gloria Stuart
Margaret Waverton
Margaret Waverton
Lilian Bond
Gladys
Gladys
Ernest Thesiger
Horace Femm
Horace Femm
Critic Reviews for The Old Dark House
Audience Reviews for The Old Dark House
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Jan 29, 2020James Whale directs this character-driven piece about travelers stranded off the beaten path in a weird old house with some serious history. It's not uninteresting, and the characters only seem outdated. Charles Laughton for instance, plays a regular businessman, and not the grotesque these works usually have him play. And the great Karloff? A grunting red herring from the moment we first see him.Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
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Aug 03, 2018The humor is irregular, the tension almost nonexistent and the characters flat as they can be (some even falling in love after having just met!), and so this is amusing enough but didn't age very well, worthy only for those delightful performances by Ernest Thesiger and Eva Moore.Carlos M Super Reviewer
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Feb 21, 2013Its got a hulking Boris Karloff, a shouting Charles Laughton, and a sassy Melvyn Douglas . . . what's not to like? It feels a bit rushed and perhaps there is some wasted potential but I enjoyed it all the same.Alec B Super Reviewer
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Sep 23, 2010Ah yes, nothing like an old school black and white spooky mansion film. Going back to basics in other words, this is more of a character driven film, with fast and snappy dialogues, very dialogue driven indeed. Thanks to the cast of actors like Melvyn Douglas and Charles Laughton, as well as some truly great character actors, the movie doesn't really needs big spooks to keep you engaged.Tsubaki S Super Reviewer
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