Rating: 
Summary: thesiger's oscar worthy performance.
Review: thesiger steals everything but the sets (as he also did in bride). he should have at least gotten an acadamy nomination for one of the two films.
whale's delightfully sardonic humour shines throughout the film.
a masterpiece all the way through.
Rating:
Summary: Oldie But A Real Goodie!
Review: This 1932 James Whale classic is just perfect for a pitch-dark stormy night's entertainment. All the elements are here for a great scary flick: You've got a stormy night, several stranded travellers, flickering lights, howling winds, an assortment of unorthodox [let's face it, weird] characters, and of course "The Old Dark House"! The only thing that could cap it off might be Chris Lee and Vincent Price. Although those two horror legends are not really needed here. This standout cast does just fine on its own. I especially enjoyed Ernest Thesiger's performance as the timid and creepy [yet quite sensitive] Mr. Femm. This film has withstood the test of time. It still holds up very well in the 21st century. Great fun no matter how many times you've seen it.
Rating:
Summary: A great old chiller!
Review: This is a superb film with fine acting,a perfect set and locale. The Actors do a brilliant job,the story is great, an instant mood of lurid,shadowy chills. This film is often overlooked but I believe it's one of the best scary movies ever. Being in b/w, it adds to the chills.
Rating: 
Summary: Creepy atmosphere
Review: This is one of the best of the old horror movies about some people getting stranded near an old house. There are many great things showing the fear and insecurity of the dark. Karloff is great as the drunken and violent butler. A must-see for any one who truly enjoys horror films
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for a late-night movie fest
Review: This movie reminds me of all the fun movies that were on the local Chiller Theater when I was growing up. Terrific thrills and chills in an old-fashioned manner. James Whales, best known for Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, directed and his touches are visible, from intelligent dialogue to the chaotic action scenes.A wind-blown Gloria Stuart is awesome to behold as a damsel in distress. Well cast and well acted, this is one of the classics.
Rating:
Summary: Nice!
Review: This was an interesting film to watch, although I admit, a bit campy at times; nevertheless, the acting is quite good, and I especially liked the character of "Saul," at the end, he's a riot! (Especially when he laughs uncontrollably like a madman.) Boris Karloff was excellent in this film as well.
Rating:
Summary: Nice!
Review: This was an interesting film to watch, although I admit, a bit campy at times; nevertheless, the acting is quite good, and I especially liked the character of "Saul," at the end, he's a riot! (Especially when he laughs uncontrollably like a madman.) Boris Karloff was excellent in this film as well.
Rating:
Summary: An Oft Overlooked Film from a Great Director
Review: Though James Whale is better know for directing FRANKENSTEIN and THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, genre fans who appreciate his work on those films will probably enjoy THE OLD DARK HOUSE. In a way, its best to think of THE OLD DARK HOUSE as Whale's dry run for THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, as it contains many of the elements that made the latter such a success: a dark, gothic set; macabre humor juxtaposed with genuine creepiness; and great performances from Boris Karloff and Ernest Thesiger (Dr. Pretorious in BRIDE). The story involves a group of travellers who are forced by inclement weather to spend the night in--you guessed it--an old, dark house, the rightful inhabitants of which are eccentrically bizarre beyond description. (Thesiger portrays the acting patriarch of this peculiar family, while Karloff plays their brutish butler.) Though the plot may sound cliche now, it was the first of its kind in 1932, making it the standard by which all to follow should be compared. (Genre fans will probably agree that most of its imitators fall short of achieving the same level of quirkiness and creepiness.) Even in this day of cinematic carnage and graphic gore, THE OLD DARK HOUSE can stir up both genuine laughs and equally authentic chills. A must-see for fans of Whale's genre flicks or any fan of classic horror.
Rating:
Summary: sound level
Review: When I first saw this film in theatres in a recent revival of Universal Horror films, I was surprised, pleasantly. It was one of the few films from that era that succeeded in getting me to jump in my seat, once. I was therefore excited when the DVD was released with all the wonderful extras. However, there is something curious I've found on many Image DVD's, that the sound level on this film is so low that I can only hear it at an acceptable volume if I pump it through my stereo amplifier at maximum volume. (I never listen to music louder than level 3, and I have to pump it up to level 10 to hear the dialogue on this DVD, and Mad Max, and others. Has anyone else had this problem?)
Rating:
Summary: Turn Out The Lights For This One!!
Review: Why everyone doesn't own this is beyond me. Anyone who likes the Universal monster movies should buy this. I discovered this movie curled up in my bed at three in the morning on a rainy night. Fantastic.... PLOT: A group of three get stranded on a rainy night at a creepy mansion. Creepiness ensues. WHY THIS MOVIE IS SO GREAT: One word-ATMOSPHERE. This movie drips creepy, shadowy, rain hitting the windowpane atmosphere. James Whale (Frankenstein) directed this, with all the little nuances that make his movies so enjoyable. His humor is here in leaps and bounds. The acting is great (What a cast!) WHY THIS DVD IS SO GREAT: Crystal clear picture- considering it's 70 years old. The essay in the sleeve is informative, the movie still gallery is enjoyable (for those of you who like those sort of things), the interview tells a neat story, the commentary is great, but the gem is Gloria Stuart's commentary. OK, she's old, so it's not exactly fast-paced. But her memories are priceless. Pretty soon all who worked on this movie will be gone... If you like atmospheric, "bump in the night" B/W movies, The Old Dark House is by far the best one. Buy this movie, you will NOT be disappointed!
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