1932 The Old Dark Horse Lobby Card Boris Karloff Charles Laughton James Whale
Considered a prequel to Rocky Horror Picture Show. The basic structure of "Rocky Horror" mirrors the 1932 film "The Old Dark House". The film features
a trio of normal citizens who pull into a creepy mansion to avoid an ever-worsening thunderstorm, only to confront the slew of weird and unusual
characters who live at the eccentric Femm family mansion.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/lifestyles/ph-cc-rocky-horror-20161020-story.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Dark_House_(1932_film)
The Old Dark House is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy horror film directed by James Whale. Based on the 1927 novel Benighted by J.B. Priestley, the
film features an ensemble cast that includes Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas, Gloria Stuart, Charles Laughton, Lilian Bond, Ernest Thesiger, Raymond
Massey and Eva Moore.
[2][3]
Set in interwar Wales.
The adaptation rights to Priestley's novel, a social commentary on contemporary British class structures, were acquired by Universal Pictures at Whale's
insistence following the completion of Frankenstein (1931) and during development on The Invisible Man (1933). The screenplay was written by Benn W.
Levy, who had previously scripted Waterloo Bridge (1931) for Whale and Universal, with uncredited contributions by The Invisible Man's R. C. Sheriff, and
serves as a largely faithful adaptation of the story. Whale was entrusted with selecting the film's largely British cast, several of whose members were
theatre colleagues of his with minimal film experience, and would appear in several of his later films.
[4]
The Old Dark House failed to match the contemporary critical and commercial success of Whale's other films, and was withdrawn from circulation after
Universal lost the rights to Priestley's novel, which was adapted for film again in 1963 by William Castle for Columbia Pictures and Hammer Film
Productions. Initially deemed a lost film, Whale's colleague Curtis Harrington eventually succeeded in recovering most of its original elements, which were
restored by the George Eastman House.
[4]
With the re-evaluation of Whale's filmography, The Old Dark House has garnered widespread critical acclaim,
and is recognized as both a cult classic and one of the director's most significant works. It was placed at number 71 on a Time Out poll of the best horror
films.
Philip Waverton, his wife Margaret and their friend Roger Penderel are lost while driving at night in a heavy storm. They come upon an old house in
the Welsh countryside where they receive shelter by Horace Femm and his sister Rebecca. Horace fears that the storm will trap the guests inside. He also
warns them that their mute butler Morgan is a dangerous, heavy drinker. As Rebecca escorts Margaret to a bedroom to change clothes, she tells her about
the Femm family, which Rebecca says was sinful and godless. She accuses Margaret of being sinful as well. Rebecca reveals that her 102-year-old father,
Sir Roderick Femm, still lives in the house.
During dinner, the group are joined by Sir William Porterhouse and a chorus girl with the stage name Gladys DuCane, who also seek refuge from the storm.
As the group chats by the fireplace, Gladys reveals her real last name is Perkins. Roger and Gladys go to retrieve some whiskey from his car. The electric
lights go out and Rebecca tells Horace to get a lamp from an upstairs landing. Horace is afraid to go upstairs, so Philip goes instead. As he fetches the lamp,
he notices a locked room and hears a voice coming from another room. William goes to help Rebecca close a window, leaving Margaret alone. Morgan,
now drunk, attacks her and chases her up the stairs to Philip, who is coming down with the lamp. Philip throws the lamp at Morgan, knocking him down
the stairs.
Roger and Gladys begin flirting while they drink and smoke. Gladys says her relationship with William is platonic, and suggests she should live with Roger
instead. They go back to the house, where they wake up William and tell him about their new romance. Meanwhile, Philip and Margaret go into the room
where he heard the voice; they find Roderick Femm there. He warns them about his eldest son, Saul, a crazed pyromaniac kept in the locked room. Philip
and Margaret discover that Morgan has let Saul out; they go downstairs to warn the other guests. Morgan comes downstairs and charges at Margaret.
Philip and William drag Morgan into the kitchen while Rebecca flees to her bedroom. Strange things happen well into the night.
By morning, the storm has subsided. Saul's attempt at burning the house has caused little damage. Philip and Margaret leave to get an ambulance, while
Gladys and William stay behind to tend to Roger's injuries. Upon awakening, Roger asks Gladys to marry him, and she happily kisses him in response.