The Black Room

Overview

In a 16th-century European town, the ruling family has been given a prophecy that, should there ever be twin boys born, the younger will murder the older; so is dismayed when twins are born to the popular baron. The older grows to be a selfish, slovenly man, who inherits the castle at his father's death and becomes ruler over the formerly happy villagers. He enjoys his power until he learns his younger brother is returning from abroad and, afraid of the prophecy, he determines to murder his sibling, hide his body in the "black room" - an old torture chamber sealed away behind the fireplace - and then impersonate him, right down to his withered arm. In this way he hopes to not only avoid the prophecy, but also escape consequences of his other criminal deeds and obtain marriage to a local girl of the nobility...

Details

Status

Released

Release date

July 15, 1935

Original language

English

Spoken languages

English

Countries

United States of America

Production

Columbia Pictures

Cast

Boris Karloff,Marian Marsh,Robert Allen,Thurston Hall,Katherine DeMille,John Buckler,Henry Kolker,Colin Tapley,Torben Meyer,John Georgeand 5 more

Director

Roy William Neill

Writer

Henry Myers,Arthur Strawn

Cinematography

Allen G. Siegler

Budget

Not recorded

Revenue

Not recorded

IMDb

tt0026123