IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.5K
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Scientist becomes obsessed with the idea of communicating with his dead wife.Scientist becomes obsessed with the idea of communicating with his dead wife.Scientist becomes obsessed with the idea of communicating with his dead wife.
Ernie Adams
- Elam
- (uncredited)
Lester Allen
- Dr. Van Den
- (uncredited)
Wheaton Chambers
- Dr. Sanders
- (uncredited)
Earl Crawford
- Johnson
- (uncredited)
Harrison Greene
- Mr. Booth, Bakery Proprietor
- (uncredited)
Erwin Kalser
- Professor Kent
- (uncredited)
Eddie Kane
- Professor Walt
- (uncredited)
George McKay
- Station Agent
- (uncredited)
Al Rhein
- Truck Driver
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCompleted December 1940, released February 3, 1941.
- GoofsDr. Julian tells Mrs. Walters she had 10,000 volts pass through her body. Volts do not flow or pass, amps do.
- Quotes
Dr. Julian Blair: Anne dear, your mother is not dead, not really. She's come back to me!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood and the Stars: Monsters We've Known and Loved (1964)
Featured review
BORIS KARLOFF is a scientist who wants to communicate with the brain waves of his dead wife. His daughter narrates the tale and concludes with: "It is dangerous to communicate with the dead." That's about the impression the viewer gets after seeing what happens in the course of a brisk one hour and six minutes.
Columbia produced this low-budget feature and gave the directing chores to Edward Dmytryk, who would later go on to bigger and better things at RKO. But it's an efficient thriller thanks to his direction and the low-key, shadowy photography that makes the absurd story at least come to life on occasion.
Enjoyable too are the performances of ANN REVERE as a sinister housekeeper who knows all about Karloff's experiments and what goes on behind the locked doors of his laboratory; DOROTHY ADAMS as an inquisitive servant who agrees to check out the lab and gets locked inside; and KENNETH MacDONALD as the Sheriff determined to find out who is responsible for all the missing bodies from the graveyard.
It's typical Karloff stuff and he lends his commanding presence to the role with more dignity than it deserves. If it emerges as a better than average horror vehicle, it's because director Dmytryk is at the helm, but the script is absurd. The low-budget production values are neatly hidden by all the shadowy photography.
Columbia produced this low-budget feature and gave the directing chores to Edward Dmytryk, who would later go on to bigger and better things at RKO. But it's an efficient thriller thanks to his direction and the low-key, shadowy photography that makes the absurd story at least come to life on occasion.
Enjoyable too are the performances of ANN REVERE as a sinister housekeeper who knows all about Karloff's experiments and what goes on behind the locked doors of his laboratory; DOROTHY ADAMS as an inquisitive servant who agrees to check out the lab and gets locked inside; and KENNETH MacDONALD as the Sheriff determined to find out who is responsible for all the missing bodies from the graveyard.
It's typical Karloff stuff and he lends his commanding presence to the role with more dignity than it deserves. If it emerges as a better than average horror vehicle, it's because director Dmytryk is at the helm, but the script is absurd. The low-budget production values are neatly hidden by all the shadowy photography.
- How long is The Devil Commands?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Más allá de la tumba
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 5 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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