Murders in the Rue Morgue
Warning - Contains a lot of pictures
Warning - Contains a lot of pictures

Director: Robert Florey
So now I've finally gotten around to another post and it's a Lugosi movie! When I first read a synopsis of this movie, I have to say that I was very confused by it. Although,I have to say the same about the other two Poe films Lugosi was in, they're certainly not simple stories. If you want a peek into my first response, take a look at this poster:

But, once I got past the enicial shock of Béla Lugosi's monobrow, it was a very good film and another after Dracula and Frankenstein(If I remember right) to use Swan Lake as an opening theme. Typical Universal cheapos.
The film's set in



I'll take a little


One of Mirakle's victims is found dead in the river (A homage to Poe's The Mystery of Mary Roget) and is taken to the police station after being fished out. Pierre, being a young medical student, attempts to examine her blood and discovers a foriegn substance which is also found in the blood of other victims.
Mirakle visits Camille and asks her to visit Erik again, but she refuses. Mirakle sends Erik after her to kidnap her. Pierre hears her screams, and tries to get into the locked room. When the police arrive, Erik has already gone and Pierre is arrested.

This scene is probably the most confusing I have ever seen. At this point one of three things could be happening:
1. A woman is being shoved up a chimney by a gorilla.
2. A woman is being beaten by a gorilla.
3. A woman is being raped by a gorilla.
When I watched, I got the third impression, as the the gorilla's chest is seen thrusting up and down, but afterwards, Camille's mother is found dead, inside the chimney, so I'll leave the choice up to the watcher.
From the fur left behind, Pierre points out that Erik must be involved. Pierre and the police present run to Mirakle's hideout, where Erik has turned on his master and strangles him. Grabbing Camille, Erik escapes with her and is chased along the rooftops of the dockside houses. Pierre confronts the ape and shoots him dead, saving his fiancee from the peril.
The end, like with most 20's 30's films seems to come so suddenly and is over very quickly, but this is proboably one of the better speedy endings I've seen, as it still manages to squeeze in an ounce of suspense in such a short amount of time.
This film has a great use of shadows, it's one of those films that wouldn't be as good in colour. That's what I love the most about these films.

And can some one tell me? Is that a gorilla in the carriage?

And can some one tell me? Is that a gorilla in the carriage?
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