It's my impression The
Old Dark House by JB Priestley is considered an
icon of classic filmdom. Thought lost for
many years, the 1932 film was found in 1968 and
has recently undergone a 4K restoration. The
movie opens with a couple and their male friend
driving on a rough country road in a horrific
rainstorm. Fortunately they come upon a large,
old
house and seek refuge. The three are reluctantly
admitted into the residence by a less than
accommodating elderly couple and a frightening butler played by Boris Karloff. Shortly there
after a second car arrives at the house with an
odd young couple also seeking refuge. We find
there are more people in the house than
originally thought and what transpires
between the 5 travelers and the residents is ...
well old and dark. Icon it may be and worth the
watch, but not on my list of favorites.
Billed as both drama and comedy, it's rather
goofy and mundane in terms of shock value.
CAST: Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas, Charles Laughton, Gloria Stuart, Raymond Massey
DIRECTED BY: James Whale
WRITERS: J.B. Priestley, Benn W. Levy, R.C. Sherriff