Before I Hang (1940)
Dr. John Garth (Boris Karloff) is on a quest to find a serum that can combat aging. When he is unable to cure his patient suffering from the infirmities of advanced age, he decides to perform a "mercy killing." He is sentenced to death by hanging, but is allowed to continue his experiments in prison until his execution. In order to ensure the success of his new serum, Garth uses the blood of a condemned murderer. The serum works, and after injecting himself with it, the aging doctor transforms into a younger man. His sentence is changed to life imprisonment.
Suddenly, Garth strangles the prison doctor (Edward Van Sloan), but the prison officials believe the murder was committed by another convict. Garth is given a pardon and returns to civilian practice. However, when he is unable to persuade his aging friends to use his serum, he becomes driven to kill again. Realizing that the blood of the murderer has contaminated his mind and soul, Garth voluntarily returns to prison.
Books with substantial mentioning of Before I Hang
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Gary J. Svehla and Susan Svehla (editors) Boris Karloff Baltimore, 1996 |
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Scott Allen Nollen Boris Karloff, A Critical Account of His Screen, Stage, Radio, television and Recording Work Jefferson, NC, 1991 |
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Richard Bojarski and Kenneth Beals The Films of Boris Karloff Secaucus, NJ, 1974 |
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