Review: James Whale's 'The Old Dark House' brings good old-fashion chills

THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932)

James Whale's The Old Dark House, released a year after Frankenstein but a year before The Invisible Man, found the prolific filmmaker in a playful mood. Temporarily turning his back on the straight macabre elements that brought him his greatest fame, Whale chose to send up both the horror genre and himself in this dark comedy about one of the most bizarre households ever captured on celluloid. Think The Addams Family, with David Lynch directing.

The story itself is pretty standard stuff--three travelers get stranded in the English countryside after a torrential rainstorm washes out the road, forcing them to take shelter at a creepy gothic mansion. Things immediately get interesting when the door is answered by the mute figure of Boris Karloff, who allows the trio to enter. Once inside, our wayward travelers discover a strange family, headed up by a positively delightful 102-year-old patriarch (played without a hint of irony by a woman in a fake beard) and his overprotective daughter, the latter of whom spends most of the film reminding the interlopers that there are no beds available for them.

The first thing most people notice about The Old Dark House is how darn funny it is. Your faithful correspondent shamefully put off watching this film for ages, sure that it would be little more than an anachronistic throwback to the cornball schlock of a bygone era... and yet the fact that this is exactly what the movie delivers is the very thing that makes it so endearing. The Old Dark House is one of the most entertaining films I've seen in months, filled as it is with (intentionally) hilarious dialogue, gleefully campy performances, and a wicked sense of mischief that never dissipates. Whale even opens the picture with a special Producer's Note, reassuring audiences that yes, the "Karloff" in this film is indeed the same gentleman who played the Monster in the previous year's Frankenstein, lest viewers be distracted by this question as they watch the movie. It's a masterstroke with which to open the story, setting the proper tone while simultaneously poking fun at the very concepts of celebrity and stardom.

Special mention must also be made of the glorious black and white cinematography by frequent Whale collaborator Arthur Edeson, who would later go on to shoot Casablanca for director Michael Curtiz. The photography here does not so much illustrate the story as envelop the viewer. The dark, dripping shadows are simply wondrous to behold. Even though the tone of the film is satirical, it's shot like a "real" horror movie, with off-kilter camera angles and distinct pools of darkness. Viewers who believe that color is inherently superior to black and white would be well-advised to spend some time getting lost in the cinematography and composition of this comedic gothic masterpiece. (See the clip below.)

Kino's DVD edition of The Old Dark House presents the film in a reasonable video transfer that reveals moderate damage to the source print. That's not a complaint, though: for years this movie was believed lost, and the only known print was found literally decomposing on a shelf. The real joy is that the film has survived at all, and Kino has expended considerable effort in getting the movie to look even this good.

Special features on the disc include an audio commentary track by actress Gloria Stuart (who played old Rose in James Cameron's Titanic), along with a second track by a James Whale expert. There is also an interesting interview with Curtis Harrington, a personal friend of the eccentric director, who single-handedly brought about the film's rediscovery and restoration. This is a highly recommended DVD for any classic horror fan.

The Old Dark House is available on VHS and DVD. No Blu-Ray has yet been announced.

NOTE: Don't confuse this film with the 1963 William Castle movie of the same name. You'd only cheat yourself.

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