Enjoyably cheap Monogram B-picture with Lugosi playing a professor of psychology who, under an assumed name, runs a soup kitchen which serves as a front to hire criminals to perform jewel heists.
Potentially interesting film is botched by a lack of focus on the creepier elements, i.e. Lugosi's heroin addicted doctor pal (Kelly) who keeps reanimated corpses in the basement. Also has one of those endings that ruins the whole film. Still has elements of interest, such as the surprisingly overt portrayal (for 1942) of a drug addict. Lugosi's method of disposing of no longer useful employees does foreshadow the opening scenes of The Dark Knight.
Screencaps are from a pretty poor public domain copy, so apologies for quality.
-Dave W. |