The Black Room (1935)




Boris Karloff, Marian Marsh - The Black Room




In the early 1800s, there is great dismay when twins are born to a ruler in a Czechoslovakian province. A legend persists that the arrival of twins means the De Berghman family will perish when the younger twin will slay the elder in the Black Room. As the years pass, Gregor (played by Boris Karloff), the eldest, acquires a reputation for brutality and sadism. The peasants become fearful as their women mysteriously disappear in the baron's castle. When an angry mob confronts the baron with their accusations, Gregor abdicates in favor of his kind-hearted brother, Anton (also played by Boris Karloff), recently returned home. Then Gregor secretly murders Anton in the Black Room and impersonates him.

Soon, Gregor obtains permission to marry the beautiful Thea (played by Marian Marsh), daughter of Col. Hassel (played by Thurston Hall). But her father discovers his identity and is murdered. Before the marriage ceremony is completed, Anton's dog betrays Gregor's true identity. Shocked at this deception, the peasants pursue the baron back to the castle. Hiding in the Black Room, Gregor is discovered by Anton's dog and knocked into a pit. He is impaled by a knife clutched by the dead Anton. The family prophecy is fulfilled with the death of the last of the De Berghmans.



Film programs

Spanish programs

Books with substantial mentioning of The Black Room

John Dileo
100 Great Film Performances You Should Remember - but probably don't
New York, 2002

Gary J. Svehla and Susan Svehla (editors)
Boris Karloff
Baltimore, 1996

Gregory William Mank
Hollywood Cauldron, Thirteen Horror Films from the Genres's Golden Age
1994

Scott Allen Nollen
Boris Karloff, A Critical Account of His Screen, Stage, Radio, television and Recording Work
Jefferson, NC, 1991

William K. Everson
Klassiker des Horrorfilms
München, 1982

Richard Bojarski and Kenneth Beals
The Films of Boris Karloff
Secaucus, NJ, 1974

William K. Everson
Classics of the Horror Film, From the days of the Silent Screen to The Exorcist
Secaucus, NJ, 1974

Books with an entry on The Black Room

Larry Langman and Daniel Finn
A Guide to American Crime Films of the Thirties
Westport, Connecticut - London, 1995