The Raven (1935)
6/10
A wealthy man convinces Dr. Vollin (Bela Lugosi), an arrogant and unstable surgeon, to save the life of his injured daughter Jean (Irene Ware). Though Jean is engaged to be married, the young woman's innocent awe and gratitude towards the life-saving surgeon, also stirs-up the doctor's torturous obsession in Jean. Unfortunately for everyone, Dr. Vollin also has a mad obsession with the torture devices he reads in Edgar Allen Poe literature.
It's a real treat to see Bela Lugosi have this much uninterrupted screen time. He plays an arrogant mad surgeon quite well. Unfortunately, besides some potent, though rather obvious, visual symbolism, such as a stuffed raven casting shadows on the wall, the story and dialogue is quite simple-minded, sluggish and ridiculous. The script seems better suited to a tongue-in-cheek stage play.
Dr. Vollin coerces a reluctant violent fugitive, Bateman (Boris Karloff), to assist him in his unhinged immoral intentions. Here Karloff's character is remarkably similar to his famous film role as the Frankenstein's monster. It's not surprising many story and character elements of the Raven seem all to reminiscent to the Dracula and Frankenstein films of 1931, with a peppering of some Flash Gordon comic-strip and film serial devices and suspense, such as levers, mechanical sliding doors and floors, and the perils of "trash-compacting" walled rooms. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Universal Studios would release the Flash Gordon film serial the following year (1936).
For those who really love the style of the 1930's horror films, the Raven provides a well paced and competent production. Just don't expect much intellectual or emotional stimulation.
(And as an extra reading treat, here's a 2005 Horror.com review of the film, written by stacilayne (Staci Layne Wilson). You may prefer to read it after you see the film if you'd rather be surprised by the unfolding of the film's story, as the review has many story
details.
http://www.horror.com/php/article-926-1.html)