IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
After hapless pianist and ex-con John Elman is framed for murder, he is resurrected by a scientist after his execution.After hapless pianist and ex-con John Elman is framed for murder, he is resurrected by a scientist after his execution.After hapless pianist and ex-con John Elman is framed for murder, he is resurrected by a scientist after his execution.
Joe King
- Judge Roger Shaw
- (as Joseph King)
Joe Sawyer
- Trigger Smith
- (as Joseph Sawyer)
Brandon Beach
- Second Guest
- (uncredited)
George Beranger
- Nolan's Butler
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe "glass heart" machine used to revive John Ellman in the film was said to be "nearly a prefect replica" of an actual perfusion pump - a device designed to keep organs alive outside an organism's body - which had been built by Charles Lindbergh when the legendary pilot and engineer was working with a Nobel-winning scientist at New York's Rockefeller Institute research labs in the mid-1930s.
- GoofsBoris Karloff's character's name in the film is spelled John Ellman in close-ups of teletype and newspaper material in it, but it is misspelled John Elman in its credits.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Ensign Pulver (1964)
- SoundtracksKamennoi Ostrow
Written by Anton Rubinstein
Featured review
Unique horror/gangster film
This is a one of a kind--combination horror/gangster! Karloff (who's just incredible) is bought back from the dead after being wrongfully executed and takes revenge on those who set him up. It's basically a gangster film until the last half hour--then the scary stuff kicks in. The film is VERY short (70 minutes) and moves quickly. It's intelligent (although bringing a person back from the dead after they've been electrocuted is a stretch!), very well-directed (effective use of shadows and camera angles) but the main reason to watch is Karloff. He never received the attention he deserved because he made horror films, which are still looked down upon. He was a wonderful actor and in this movie gives one of his best performances ("The Black Room" is probably THE best he ever gave). Just check out his expression after he "kills" the men he goes after. Excellent job. A perfect "B" movie. Don't miss it! I don't believe this is on video (I saw it on TCM), so if you get a chance, SEE IT! You won't be disappointed!
helpful•334
- preppy-3
- Oct 26, 1999
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $217,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 6 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content