1956 The Black Sleep

• Director: Reginald LeBorg
• Writers: John C. Higgins (Screenplay) | Gerald Drayson Adams (Story)
• Stars: Basil Rathbone, Akim Tamiroff, Lon Chaney Jr., John Carradine, Bela Lugosi
• Runtime: 82 minutes (1 hour 22 minutes)
• Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aabat6RNYCM

Spoiler-Free Judgment Zone

A rich and brilliant scientist isn’t quite mad, but he does have a secret lair and dabbles in extreme medication and experimental brain surgery. Once he gets a willing assistant, he does full tilt with his work. It’s well made with good special effects of the time and great sets, but the pacing is slow and uneven. It’s on the dull side with some entertaining moments.

Spoilery Synopsis

We get a voiceover about a strange drug that essentially makes zombies. It’s an ancient drug, and it induces “the black sleep.” Credits roll.

At Newgate Prison in 1872, we watch as Sir Joel Cadman visits Dr. Ramsay in his cell. Gordon Ramsay was a promising student, but he’s scheduled to be hanged in the morning. Gordon says he was framed for killing Curry, but he doesn’t really remember any of it. Sir Joel gives Gordon some of the “black sleep” drug to help him through the execution in the morning.

In the morning, Gordon is dead, probably of heart failure, hours before the execution. Sir Joel Cadman takes possession of the body, takes him home, and explains to his servant, Odo, that Gordon is just in suspension, not dead. When Gordon wakes up, Cadman reads him his own death certificate. Cadman explains the whole thing to him.

The two doctors head off to Cadman’s remote castle to do more experiments. Casimir, the butler, lets them in. One of Cadman’s patients, Mungo, chases Laurie around the house until Daphne makes him stop. Daphne’s the nurse, and she keeps all the patients sleeping with the drug. Angelina, for example, has been in a drug-induced coma for 238 days, waiting for brain surgery.

Gordon mentions that Mungo reminds him of Dr. Munro, a brilliant doctor. Turns out, it’s the same man, now insane. Cadman discusses his theories of brain surgery and phrenology. Cadman’s got his laboratory in a secret room in the castle. Daphne and Laurie are already there getting a cadaver ready for them. We see that the corpse has the same tattoo that Odo has. By electrically stimulating various areas of the brain, he can make the corpse respond in various ways. Cadman eventually admits that the man they’re cutting into is still alive, under the black sleep. Gordon objects, but Cadman says it’s all justified.

That night, Gordon breaks up another fight between Mungo and Laurie. Laurie takes Gordon into her confidence; she feels sad for Mungo, who is actually her father but is now just a monster. Cadman operated on his brain, and it went badly. Dr. Cadman has an evil streak, and she knows it.

Cadman talks about his past surgeries with Gordon, and there’s a lot he’s hiding. Odo shows up unexpectedly, and he’s had trouble from the police while acquiring new corpses.

We then get a long scene where Odo pays a woman to model for him but then drugs her. He gives her the tattoo and gets her body ready to send off to Cadman. The police show up and want to search the place. This whole scene goes on for ages, and not much happens. Afterward, Odo simply kills the woman to keep her quiet.

Gordon and Laurie talk about prisoners and patients. Gordon starts calling the patients, “victims.” Gordon theories that one of the previous patients was Curry, the man he was accused of murdering. Gordon tells her all about his situation.

They find a different secret door, and inside this one, they find a dungeon with prisoners. An old man, Bohemond, thinks it’s the year 1100. They also find the man that they operated on the other day, and he’s all disfigured now. There are more, including Curry, who’s not dead at all.

Cadman and the other characters catch them in the act, and Daphne orders Mungo to grab Gordon. They all go upstairs, not realizing that Gordon gave the cell keys to Curry.

Cadman needs Gordon to help with one more operation, this time on Angelina, Cadman’s wife, who needs brain surgery. She’s the reason he’s been doing all this. Odo shows up with the dead woman, and Cadman is not pleased. Cadman decides to use Odo has his next subject– no, maybe Laurie will do instead.

The police arrive downstairs, following Odo. Cadman gets rid of them quickly. Curry, Bohemond, and the others break out of the prison, shouting “Kill! Kill!” Meanwhile, Gordon sedates Mungo and then the crazies kill him. Cadman carries in Angelina, and the crazies make him fall off a ledge to his death. The police return and arrest Odo as they get the full story from Gordon.

Gordon and Laurie have a happy ending.

Brian’s Commentary

It’s got a great cast of old horror icons that really don’t do anything other than lend their name to the movie poster. Lugosi doesn’t speak. Chaney doesn’t do much other than shamble around, as does Tor Johnson. John Carradine gets lines, but he’s little more than a cameo.

It’s not awful, but it’s a long way from great. Probably its worst offense is all the wasted talent.

Kevin’s Commentary

That was the coolest fireplace secret door.

This was the actual last film of Bela Lugosi, or last complete role. Two big names in non-speaking roles, draws an audience and saves money. Plus lots of other recognizable faces of the time.

They almost had Peter Lorre too, he was meant to be the gypsy role, but he wanted more salary than the budget would allow.

It had some interesting moments, but overall I thought it was on the dull side.