Hinter den Mauern des Grauens

1951's "The Strange Door" is something of a throwback to the Gothic horrors of previous decades, except that it comes from Universal, which rarely did such pictures (1939's "Tower of London" and 1940's "The House of the Seven Gables" instantly come to mind). Reuniting Charles Laughton and Boris Karloff 19 years after 1932's "The Old Dark House" (James Whale English Gothic), Laughton especially has a field day, alternately menacing and comical, and always fun to watch. Karloff is sadly reduced to a tongue-in-cheek servant role, quietly speaking his lines while rolling his eyes with great frequency. The château was used as a torture chamber during the Middle Ages, featuring a dungeon full of armor and weapons, plus a cell where the walls come together (Lugosi made use of one in 1935's "The Raven"). Richard Stapley (later Wyler) makes little impression as the hero, but Sally Forrest captures the eye as the endangered beauty (even lovelier in "Son of Sinbad" with Vincent Price, where she dances in a skimpy harem outfit). Laughton's sadistic nobleman is ably supported by a terrific supporting cast of rogues ("villainy binds men together!"), with William Cottrell, whom I've never seen in anything else, Morgan Farley, and Hollywood newcomer Michael Pate, who earns a piece of mutton for his handling of a bribe (he later starred as the vampire gunslinger in Universal's 1959 "Curse of the Undead"). Paul Cavanagh and Alan Napier have smaller roles, but are welcome faces nonetheless. This eternally underrated little 'B' features music cues from "The Wolf Man," "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man," and "House of Frankenstein," and was followed a year later by a similar Gothic, "The Black Castle," also featuring Karloff and Pate.

A very neat Hammeresque thriller with some good plot twist and moody atmosphere.

A young rascal is escaping the mob after accidentally killing a man and finds himself at the door of a sinister castle. The door opens and closes after him. But very soon it seems that he has been expected at the castle and for no other reason than to marry the lady of the house. So was his getting there a coincident in the first place?

It's always nice to see two over-the-top actors fighting like professional beauties for the best of the picture. In this case, Laughton gallops away with his colours flying (in black and white). He really acts for every dollar. Perhaps Karloff would have been a better choice for this part, but Laughton's tour de force is such an enjoyment that I personally wouldn't have it any other way. Karloff's part isn't so interesting a material to start with, so he is pretty much wasted as far as his fans are concerned.

Unfortunately the romantic leads don't fare well. The heroes' part cries out for Erroll Flynn or Stuart Granger or anyone as confident, suave, butch and agile. Unfortunately Richard Stapley-Wyler has none of these qualities. Albeit undeniably handsome, his performance is timid and effeminate. It's difficult to believe that in real life Wyler used to be a road racer. He walks like a ballerina in the mud and speaks in a flat, nasal voice which he obviously tries to make sound as low as possible. His total reluctance to act is sympathetically shared by another pretty but lifeless figurine, Sally Forrest. Personally I just think she keeps herself down as the leading man doesn't light her fire. If only these two would have blended into the acting ensemble, this film would be so much more fun.

Nevertheless, nicely shot with good settings and soundtrack, it's a treat to everyone who enjoys Corman's Poe adaptations or Hammer's dark old house films. Not quite cigar, but gives a good puff of smoke.

The Strange Door (1951) is released by Universal Pictures, it's directed by Joseph Pevney and stars Charles Laughton, Boris Karloff, and Sally Forrest. Based on the short story, The Sire de Maletroit's Door by Robert Louis Stevenson, it comes with much horror credentials. However, and in spite of it constantly being tagged a horror film, The Strange Door is more a Gothic thriller tinged with madness and all round nastiness.

The story is a solid one as Laughton's Sire Alain de Maletroit plots revenge against his younger brother, Edmund {Paul Cavanagh}, revenge that comes in the form of imprisonment down in the family dungeon for 20 years. Not content with that, Maletroit, after telling her that her father is dead, makes Edmund's daughter, Blanche's {Forrest}, life a misery. Culminating in a forced marriage to scallywag Denis de Beaulieu {Richard Stapley/Whyler)} who has been duped and trapped in the Maletroit castle. But Maletroit hadn't planned for Blanche & Denis to hit it off, and also lurking in the shadows is servant Voltan {Karloff} who is loyal to the imprisoned Edmund.

This is very much an acting piece, both Laughton & Karloff could overact with the best of them, but the results were never less than entertaining. Such is the case here as Pevney creates a moody Gothic atmosphere in the shadowy Maletroit home, and then, lets his actors run with Stevenson's genesis source. There's much dastardly talking and the odd perky moment dotted along the way, but really it's only the lead actors that keep the piece from stagnating. Particularly at the midpoint when the good old romantic thread starts to be pulled.

Still it's a recommended film for sure, for its sets {Universal rarely fails to deliver here}, mood and its two scene stealing lead actors. Just don't go in expecting an outright horror film is all. 6.5/10

There were many horror titles released by Universal around the 1940's and 50's which told short stories (usually adapted from literature) within a slim running time - routine B-movie fare bolstered by one of the many fantastic actors they had on their payroll. The Strange Door is one such example. It's a rather daft story, adapted from a Robert Louis Stevenson short about a playboy high-born caught up in the sadistic plans of a sadistic lord. With a tacked-on romance, this is pretty pedestrian stuff for the most part. But when Charles Laughton and Boris Karloff are on screen, this timid horror comes alive.

Sire Alain de Maletroit (Laughton) and his cronies manipulate troublesome rake Denis de Beaulieu (Richard Wyler) into a mansion. While the front door opens from the outside, the inside contains no handle, trapping Denis within the strange castle. Alain explains to Denis that he intends for Denis to marry his lovely daughter Blanche (Sally Forrest). At first apprehensive, Denis meets and eventually falls in love with the delicate Blanche, infuriating the huge lord who naturally has an ulterior motive to his sweet-sounding deal. Alain has imprisoned and tortured his brother Edmond (Paul Cavanagh) for the past 20 years, with the hope of making the poor man's daughter miserable as well. However, he doesn't anticipate Denis's redemptive qualities.

Laughton doesn't so much chew the scenery but swill it around his chubby cheeks. Whenever he is on screen, it is impossible to take your eyes from him. Alongside looking like he's having a ball, every gesture, eye movement and idiosyncratic ramble seem almost improvised, as if he knows how forgettable this movie is but wants to make damn sure you'll be entertained while you watch it. Karloff also brings wide-eyed sympathy to the faithful servant Voltan, a man tasked with the dirty job of watching over the prisoner but does all he can to help the poor man. Wyler is less impressive; a constantly wooden presence with a voice that almost hurts the ears. The film is formulaic and stretched, but is occasionally very entertaining and a must-see for fans of its two lead stars.

Noble-born cad Dennis (Stapley) has been tricked into a forced stay at the eerie manor of the Sire de Maletroit (Charles Laughton), an evil madman who cannot get over the death of his beloved, twenty years after she married his brother (Paul Cavanagh) instead and subsequently passed away during childbirth.

This film starts as a period piece and slowly turns into a horror story. Quite slowly, in fact, to the point where you may even doubt if the horror aspects are going to arise. But this plays out well, building the characters and situation for the events that are to come.

While this is sometimes considered a Boris Karloff film, Karloff actually has a rather small role to play. It ought to be called a Charles Laughton film, because Laughton shines. He has such charisma, stealing every scene (in a good way) and leaving you wanting more. He ought to be a bigger deal than he is.