User reviews

The beginning is memorable: a lady is rescued in a dramatic shoot-out, the words "THE END" appear - and when the camera zooms back, we realize this is a cinema, and one member of the audience has been murdered... Unfortunately, this first scene is already the best in the movie that goes on like this: an old gangster decides before his death to donate all his money to the daughter of a former victim. However, the treasure is locked behind a mysterious door, and every move of the girl is watched by other gangsters. The cast includes the usual suspects like Werner Peters (excellent!), Harald Leipnitz and the ubiquitous Kinski, but for the two very important roles of the heiress and the inspector, Judith Dornys and Harry Meyen were chosen who never appeared in a movie of the Wallace series before or after, and they are just not Dor and Fuchsberger. Meyen looks like a bank clerk rather than a law enforcer. But also for the story and more reasons, "Die Gruft mit dem Rätselschloß" by F.J.Gottlieb is not quite on the same level as the movies directed by Reinl or Vohrer for the series, simple truth.

A strong opening with a murder during a movie screening! Unfortunately, the film's plot then becomes less exciting. This is also due to the lead actors, Harald LEIPNITZ and Judith DORNYS, who simply don't have enough star power. The supporting roles are interestingly cast: Harry MEYEN (Romy SCHNEIDER's first husband) plays the detective assistant, and James Bond villain Ilse STEPPAT (from ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE) plays a shadowy mill owner.

Unfortunately, the Edgar Wallace films (including THE BLACK ABBOT) by Franz Josef GOTTLIEB don't reach the quality of Harald REINL, Jürgen ROLAND, and Alfred VOHRER. However, they are definitely worth seeing for fans of West German horror thrillers.