Bedlam

Name: Bedlam
Genre: Horror
Released: TODO_MISSING
Rating: 90

1946, Horror, 1h 19m

21 Reviews 1,000+ Ratings

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Bedlam Photos

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Movie Info

After getting a glimpse of the conditions at the St. Mary's of Bethlehem Asylum, known as "Bedlam," Nell Bowen (Anna Lee) is concerned that the patients are being mistreated. When she seeks to better the situation, the head of St. Mary's, George Sims (Boris Karloff), uses his political savvy to have Nell committed. Being within St. Mary's does not deter Nell, however, and she starts to turn the patients against Sims in a bid to violently oust him from power.

Genre:

Horror
Original Language:

English
Director:

Mark Robson
Producer:

Val Lewton
Writer:

Val Lewton, Mark Robson
Release Date (Theaters):

May 10, 1946 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jan 1, 2009
Runtime:

1h 19m
Distributor:

RKO Radio Pictures, Image Entertainment Inc.

Cast & Crew

Boris Karloff
Master George Sims

Anna Lee
Nell Bowen

Billy House
Lord Mortimer

Glenn Vernon
The Gilded Boy

Jason Robards Sr.
Oliver Todd

Joan Newton
Dorothea the Dove

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Bedlam

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (2)

Full Review… Dave Kehr Chicago Reader

Full Review… Bosley Crowther New York Times

Full Review… Tony Rayns Time Out

Full Review… Mattie Lucas From the Front Row

Full Review… Matt Brunson Film Frenzy

Full Review… Eddie Harrison film-authority.com

Full Review… Robert Sellers Radio Times

Full Review… David N. Butterworth rec.arts.movies.reviews

Full Review… Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy

Full Review… Walter Chaw Film Freak Central

Full Review… Fernando F. Croce CinePassion

Full Review… Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (21)

Audience Reviews for Bedlam

Jun 25, 2016

Some good ideas, but ultimately it doesn't work.

Marcus W Super Reviewer
Feb 22, 2011

an interesting film, more a gothic costume drama than horror and producer val lewton's last film for rko. the story takes place in st mary bethlehem in london, a notorious madhouse. in the 18th century people were allowed to visit 'the loonies' as they were known and the hospital was a popular tourist attraction. anna lee plays an opinionated woman who objects to boris karloff's treatment of his patients and ends by being committed herself. the story was inspired by william hogarth's paintings of bedlam in the rake's progress and some of his works are used in the film. altho not nearly as lurid as it could have been it was banned in britain for many years. conditions for the mentally ill improved in the following century due to the efforts of the quakers and reaction to the madness of king george III

Stella D Super Reviewer
Feb 22, 2011

A very poor story executed decently. Tries to be a horror film at times and tries to be a politcal statement at times, while shoehorning in a love story. It fails at becoming any of these, but it does have some pretty decent scenes - mostly the ones with Karloff (of course).

Tim S Super Reviewer
Sep 05, 2010

Although it sounds like a good story, it isn't such a good movie. The only good actor is Karloff, and the movie is somewhat strange and somewhat boring.

Aj V Super Reviewer