IMDb RATING
6.3/10
5.3K
YOUR RATING
A mad scientist seeks to mingle human blood with that of an ape, and resorts to kidnapping women for his experiments.A mad scientist seeks to mingle human blood with that of an ape, and resorts to kidnapping women for his experiments.A mad scientist seeks to mingle human blood with that of an ape, and resorts to kidnapping women for his experiments.
- Awards
- 1 win
Leon Ames
- Pierre Dupin
- (as Leon Waycoff)
Ted Billings
- Sideshow Spectator
- (uncredited)
Herman Bing
- Franz Odenheimer
- (uncredited)
Joe Bonomo
- Gorilla
- (uncredited)
Agostino Borgato
- Alberto Montani
- (uncredited)
Iron Eyes Cody
- Indian at Sideshow
- (uncredited)
Christian J. Frank
- Gendarme Using Snuff
- (uncredited)
Charles Gemora
- Erik, the Gorilla
- (uncredited)
Harrison Greene
- Sideshow Barker
- (uncredited)
Charlotte Henry
- Blonde Girl in Sideshow Audience
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMany censors cut parts of the death scenes of the woman (Arlene Francis) of the streets - eliminating her stabbing and being tied to the cross beams.
- GoofsIn many scenes, the close-up of a chimpanzee is used for the gorilla.
- Quotes
Dr. Mirakle: [Responding to an audience member who has accused him of heresy] Heresy? Do they still burn men for heresy? Then burn me monsieur, light the fire! Do you think your little candle will outshine the flame of truth?
- Crazy creditsAt the end of the film, the cast list is shown again with the heading, "A GOOD CAST IS WORTH REPEATING...."
- Alternate versionsWhen originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating. All cuts were waived in 2001 when the film was granted a '12' certificate for home video.
- ConnectionsEdited into Mondo Lugosi - A Vampire's Scrapbook (1987)
Featured review
Edgar Allan Poe Meets Bela Lugosi
A crazed scientist commits vile MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE to promote his theories concerning the relationship between human & ape biology.
Bela Lugosi dominates this rather fascinating little foray into terror, his mad mesmerizing eyes & theatrical gestures a natural complement to the film's Grand Guignol qualities. Listening to the world of weariness in his voice as he delivers a line like `Will my search never end?' makes only more poignant this fine actor's eventual descent into drug addicted obscurity.
Pert, pretty little Sidney Fox -she actually receives top billing over Lugosi - gives a pleasing performance as the unfortunate choice of the ape's interest (the plot is never really clear as to what, exactly, Lugosi is attempting to accomplish with his gruesome experiments). Leon Waycoff is hopeless as a romantic lead, but with an eventual name change to Leon Ames, he was to become one of Hollywood's most durable character actors.
The supporting cast is quite good: plump Bert Roach as a nervous medical student; sepulchral D'Arcy Corrigan as a sardonic morgue keeper; Arlene Francis, who has the dubious honor of featuring in one of Universal's most horrific murder scenes; and Noble Johnson, important Black actor & silent film star, here performing in whiteface (as he often did) as Lugosi's mute henchman.
Movie mavens will spot some familiar faces in unbilled roles: Harry Holman as Miss Fox's silly, obese landlord; Herman Bing, Torben Meyer & Agostino Borgato as three ear-witnesses to one of the murders; Tempe Pigott as an old crone with very bad teeth; and Charlotte Henry as a lovely young lady.
Based somewhat loosely on the classic detective story by Edgar Allan Poe, the film also owes much in plot to Leroux' The Phantom of the Opera and in style to Wiene's THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI. Karl Freund's cinematography is first rate, as is the expressionistic set design by Herman Rosse, with buildings tilted or leaning at crazed angles. The contribution of master makeup artist Jack Pierce is also evident.
Bela Lugosi dominates this rather fascinating little foray into terror, his mad mesmerizing eyes & theatrical gestures a natural complement to the film's Grand Guignol qualities. Listening to the world of weariness in his voice as he delivers a line like `Will my search never end?' makes only more poignant this fine actor's eventual descent into drug addicted obscurity.
Pert, pretty little Sidney Fox -she actually receives top billing over Lugosi - gives a pleasing performance as the unfortunate choice of the ape's interest (the plot is never really clear as to what, exactly, Lugosi is attempting to accomplish with his gruesome experiments). Leon Waycoff is hopeless as a romantic lead, but with an eventual name change to Leon Ames, he was to become one of Hollywood's most durable character actors.
The supporting cast is quite good: plump Bert Roach as a nervous medical student; sepulchral D'Arcy Corrigan as a sardonic morgue keeper; Arlene Francis, who has the dubious honor of featuring in one of Universal's most horrific murder scenes; and Noble Johnson, important Black actor & silent film star, here performing in whiteface (as he often did) as Lugosi's mute henchman.
Movie mavens will spot some familiar faces in unbilled roles: Harry Holman as Miss Fox's silly, obese landlord; Herman Bing, Torben Meyer & Agostino Borgato as three ear-witnesses to one of the murders; Tempe Pigott as an old crone with very bad teeth; and Charlotte Henry as a lovely young lady.
Based somewhat loosely on the classic detective story by Edgar Allan Poe, the film also owes much in plot to Leroux' The Phantom of the Opera and in style to Wiene's THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI. Karl Freund's cinematography is first rate, as is the expressionistic set design by Herman Rosse, with buildings tilted or leaning at crazed angles. The contribution of master makeup artist Jack Pierce is also evident.
helpful•323
- Ron Oliver
- May 18, 2001
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Ubistva u ulici Morg
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $190,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 1 minute
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) officially released in India in English?
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