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      The Black Cat

      Released May 2, 1941 1h 10m Horror List
      Reviews 35% Audience Score 250+ Ratings The family of wealthy, elderly Henrietta Winslow (Cecilia Loftus) gathers for an advance reading of her will. Believing Henrietta is near death, her nephew, Montague (Basil Rathbone), has brought along realtor Gil Smith (Broderick Crawford). Dismayed that the family anticipates her demise, Henrietta reads her will and stuns everyone by adding that no one can inherit until the estate guardian, Abigail (Gale Sondergaard), dies. When Henrietta is murdered, Abigail fears her own life is in danger. Read More Read Less

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      The Black Cat

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      Critics Reviews

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      John C. Mosher New Yorker Quickly the film shows itself to be the usual kind of thing about an old house with secret passages, sliding panels, disappearing figures, reaching hands, and the like. Sep 6, 2018 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Basil Rathbone and a young Alan Ladd play two of the in-laws, Bela Lugosi is the nosy groundskeeper, and Hugh Herbert and Broderick Crawford offer heavy-handed comic relief. Rated: 2.5/4 Dec 22, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      CodyZamboni An ok comedy horror film that's not very funny, or scary. Sole interest are the famous faces in the cast, and figuring out who's the killer. Some nice thunder lighting rain sequences, as we watch greedy grandkids await grandma to kick the bucket. Did I mention there are way too much stale comedy schtick? Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/24 Full Review Steve D Not scary or interesting at least anymore. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/28/23 Full Review martin a An enjoyable film but the comedy ruins it, Hugh Herberts is too much in the film and his constant bumbling is more than annoying, Broderick Crawford, however, is a pure delight, a wonderful actor. I wish this had not been made as a part comedy as would have made a much better film, as the story is good, all about a wealthy woman who leaves the money to her housekeeper to look after her cats, but her family are not happy, soon people start dying. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member 1941's The Black Cat is neither a remake of the 1934 Karloff-Lugosi film of the same name, nor does it bear the slightest relation to the same-named Edgar Allan Poe story (as if the 1934 picture did!) The fact that the heroes are played by Hugh Herbert and Broderick Crawford is indication enough that the 1941 film wasn't meant to be taken entirely seriously. SPOOF all the way . t all begins when elderly cat fancier Henrietta Winslow (played by legendary vaudeville impressionist Cecilia Loftus) is murdered by a scheming relative. At the reading of the will, Henrietta's heirs discover that the old dear has left her entire fortune to her pet felines. No one will get a penny until all the cats join their ancestors in Tabby Heaven. Several more murders occur, as suspicion is cast on such shady types as Mr. Hartley (Basil Rathbone), Abigail Doone (Gale Sondergaard) and family butler Eduardo (Bela Lugosi in yet another red-herring role). By the time that bumbling Mr. Penny (Herbert) and Hubert Smith (Crawford) figure out who the real killer is, heroine Elaine Winslow (Anne Gwynne) is on the verge of meeting her doom as well. Billed last, Alan Ladd has practically nothing to do as one of the heirs. Hardly one of the classic Universal horror efforts. Still the film The Black Cat had a good murder mystery plot line and although mainly absurd I found it very enjoyable . I recommend this movie . Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review andy f A comedic horror very loosely influenced by Poe's The Black Cat. It tries to be The Old Dark House, but the ends up being more like an early Abbott and Costello movie. Lugosi again is underused but there are some great sets and a few horrific moments towards the climax. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Enjoyably comfy, Sunday afternoon fare. Blobbo nap now. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Black Cat

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis The family of wealthy, elderly Henrietta Winslow (Cecilia Loftus) gathers for an advance reading of her will. Believing Henrietta is near death, her nephew, Montague (Basil Rathbone), has brought along realtor Gil Smith (Broderick Crawford). Dismayed that the family anticipates her demise, Henrietta reads her will and stuns everyone by adding that no one can inherit until the estate guardian, Abigail (Gale Sondergaard), dies. When Henrietta is murdered, Abigail fears her own life is in danger.
      Director
      Albert Rogell
      Distributor
      Universal Pictures
      Production Co
      Universal/Universal Int
      Genre
      Horror
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 2, 1941, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 22, 2017
      Runtime
      1h 10m
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