The Strange Door

Moviecut—The Strange Door

source: The Strange Door

Not since the barn-storming days of Tod Slaughter (and his series of gruesome, cheap shockers) has there ever been such a creepy villain as Charles Laughton's Sire de Maletroit, a madman keeping his brother (Alan Napier) prisoner and arranging a sham marriage for his niece. This lacks the mustache twirling that made Slaughter's villains such a hoot and was part of Laughton's previous similar role in "Jamaica Inn". Toss in Boris Karloff as a servant, playing both ends against the middle, and you have a plethora of mediocre attempts at chills with a finale reminiscent of 1935's "The Raven". Laughton's "Snidely Whiplash" villain (who laughs like Mutley) seems to have no monetary motivation, just jealousy over the fact that he was in love with the woman his brother married. Karloff's character must be a cat, because he gets shot and stabbed, yet manages to make it through the climax. Then, there's the perennial hero and heroine (Michael Pate and Sally Forrest), thrust together, even though she's originally in love with somebody who is never seen, and he goes from a drunken playboy to noble savior in a flash. At least Universal's famous Gothic sets got some good use, if not their stock writers's imagination.

The Strange Door (1951) ** (out of 4) Alain de Maletroit (Charles Laughton) pretty much forces a man (Richard Stapley) to marry his niece (Sally Forrest) but what neither know is that her father, who was believed killed twenty years earlier, is actually being held prisoner is a secret location inside a castle. THE STRANGE DOOR was Universal's attempt at a "horror" film but it's actually a melodrama taken from a story by Robert Louis Stevenson. I'm really not sure what Universal was thinking at this time but it's easy to see why they were becoming a second tier studio in regards to horror and why sci-fi was going to take over the decade. You'd have to search pretty far and wide to find many defenders of this film because there's really nothing too special here outside of the cast. Speaking of the cast, it's really too bad the screenplay and direction are such a bore because we're given some pretty good performances. Laughton delivers in his role but then again he could play these types of crazy characters in his sleep. I also thought both Stapley and Forrest were good in their parts as were supporting players like Alan Napier and Paul Cavanagh. Boris Karloff has a brief role here to press the horror market. THE STRANGE DOOR is just a very boring movie that moves extremely slow and goes no where.

Charles Laughton stars as evil Sir De Maletroit, who invites reputed cad Dennis(played by Richard Stapley) to his manor home with the intention that he marry his niece Blanche(played by Sally Forest) He seeks revenge against his brother Edmond(imprisoned in his dungeons) because he dared marry the woman he loved. The plan goes awry when Dennis and Blanche unexpectedly fall in love, and are aided by his servant Voltan(played by Boris Karloff) to escape, but of course it wont be as simple as that. Not bad thriller is adequately directed by future TV director Joseph Pevney, who creates some atmosphere, but wastes Karloff in such a small role, and Laughton is quite hammy here. Story is OK but unexceptional in this mostly mediocre film, worth a watch on a rainy day at least!

Cruel and cunning madman Sire Alain de Maletroit (a wonderfully robust and wicked portrayal by Charles Laughton) plots revenge against his younger brother Edmund. Alain forces brash and dashing rascal Denis de Beaulieu (a fine and likable performance by Richard Wyler) to marry his sweet niece Blanche (the fetching and appealing Sally Forrest). Alain's meek browbeaten servant Voltan (the always marvelous Boris Karloff in sturdy form) tries to help Denis and Blanche escape from Voltan's vile clutches. Skillfully directed with real style and energy by Joseph Pevney, with a constant brisk pace, a clever and compelling script by Jerry Sackheim, sharp, witty dialogue, crisp black and white cinematography Irving Glassberg, a few thrilling and well staged action scenes, a spirited score, a tight 81 minute running time, and an extremely tense and harrowing climax, this lively romp overall sizes up as an immensely entertaining picture. Moreover, it's a definite treat to see legendary cinematic giants Laughton and Karloff on screen together (Laughton's deliciously decadent presence in particular certainly keeps the movie humming throughout). There are also sound supporting contributions from William Cottrell as the cynical Corbeau, Paul Cavanaugh as the miserable, imprisoned Edmund, and Michael Pate as Alain's faithful, smoothly slimy butler Talon. A neat little film.

When Universal became Universal-International in 1946, the studio virtually ended its monster movies. Producing honorable, but now forgotten films like ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST and ALL MY SONS, the newly-organized studio was obviously aiming for taste and class. Even the Universal-International logo, with a quiet, turning earth against a starry field, was more tasteful than the brash, glittering glass-globe that opened Universal movies the decade previous. Aching for critics' approval, the studio even hired the brilliant Val Lewton, who produced only one Universal-International film before his untimely death. Afterwards, William Alland, an associate of Orson Welles, assumed command of the studio's B-films and soon made THE STRANGE DOOR. It's often compared to Universal's previous great monster films, which is not quite appropriate, because the movie is more of an attempt at doing a Val Lewton horror film. Like Lewton's BEDLAM, this film is set in 18th century. Like Lewton's THE BODY SNATCHER, this film is based on a story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Like Lewton's ISLE OF THE DEAD, this film has Boris Karloff. Certainly THE STRANGE DOOR is not the best for fans of either Karloff or Laughton, both of whom overact to the point of silliness. Even though it compares to--because it draws inspiration from--the Val Lewton horror films, it completely lacks their creepiness and substance. Watch any of the Lewton horrors and compare its atmosphere with this movie's and you'll observe a great example of the difference between subtle and non-subtle lighting. Not surprisingly, producer Alland would find his niche in producing B science fiction films, not horror ones. It's a fun flick, but one that disappoints on most all levels. Even fans of Robert Louis Stevenson are disappointed. The short story, "The Sire de Maletroit's Door" is romantic, ironic, and even humorous (this movie has humor as well, but unintentional). Stevenson's original tale is not set in the refined eighteenth century, but during the chaotic era of the Hundred Years War. Although Stevenson's sire is a severe authoritarian, he is actually shrewd and clever--nothing like Laughton's madman, just as the original story has little in common with this over-ripe (or overwrought?) piece of entertaining hokum.

I'm surprised at having never heard of this film because it's certainly part of the genre I enjoy. To see Charles Laughton and Boris Karloff as the stars, I thought it was worth a look. Of course, it is full of formulaic stuff, with the madman Laughton carrying decades of anger after being jilted, exacting his revenge at the daughter of his adversary. He lives in a hideous mansion, full of torture devices and secrets. He is surrounded by toadies whom he mistreats, but who are beholding to him. A young man is shanghaied because he is a scoundrel. Laughton wants him to become the groom to the young woman's bride. Karloff, for some reason, is able to lurk around the castle, peeking through doors and protecting a prisoner. Of course, love will out and that throws a monkey wrench into things. There is also the classic flaw of the villain just going a bit too far in his efforts to gain vengeance. Still, there is lots of suspense and a satisfactory plot line.

Devlish aristocrat develops scheme to destroy his niece by forcing her into marrying womanizing scoundrel, while holding her father prisoner in a dungeon cell, not knowing that his oft-abused servant is working to set them all free. Charles Laughton is a riot as the lecherous Sire Alain de Maletroit, gnawing without restraint on the scenery, applying relish to the dialogue..his dinner table scene, where he's tearing into his meal along with his underlings, had me in ribbons. Maletroit's château is one of those wonderful Universal sets with secret passageways, torture chambers, hidden rooms, and large areas only a massive castle could contain for banquet guests. While accepting that beautiful fair maiden Blanche(Sally Forrest)and rogue Denis de Beaulieu(Richard Wyler)would fall in love with each other is a bit of a stretch(..and this romance does deter from spending more time with Laughton and Karloff), and the fact that it's hard to fathom Maletroit trusting Voltan(Karloff) to move about unimpeded, I still found The Strange Door incredibly entertaining. The juicy sanguinary dialogue is cheerfully delivered by Laughton who understood how over-the-top the material was, playing it very tongue-in-cheek. While embarrassed critics would commonly complain of Laughton's ham, I say, "Prepare the feast!" Yep, Laughton, in his performance, might deliver the ham, but I'm at the table licking my chops with a fork and knife. Karloff, while in an unflattering role as a mistreated servant, he does get to be the hero at the end, in a suspenseful climax, badly wounded after an altercation with Laughton, attempting to deliver the key to the cell trapping Blanche, Denis, and her father as the walls are closing in to crush them. The 50's wasn't exactly that good to Karloff, but he did what he could with the roles given him. I consider The Strange Door the kind of chiller perfect for a late rainy night, a definite midnight movie deserving of a cult following, if you approach it in the right frame of mind, that is. The villains are so positively evil, you can't help but grin at their benevolent antics.

It's rather ironic that "The Strange Door" was included in the fabulous Boris Karloff collection (horror fans, buy this!!), since his role in the story – albeit important – is rather limited in screen time. If some distributor ever comes up with the luminous idea of releasing a Charles Laughton box set, then this film most definitely should be a part of that, as it is mainly he who steals the show! Karloff is professional and reliable as always, but it's Laughton who dominates every sequence he's in; hands down. "The Strange Door" is adapted from a story by Robert Louis Stevenson (the creator of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde") and it's a truly engaging and atmospheric tale set during the Victorian era in France. Laughton portrays Sire Alain de Maledroit, a malicious nobleman who hates every still living member of his family and wants to destroy them slow & painfully. Therefore he personally selects a reputed troublemaker to marry his niece Blanche and counts on the possibility that he'll emotionally wreck her! And even though Blanche believes that her father is long dead, Sire de Maledroit keeps him locked up in the dungeons beneath the castle. Boris Karloff plays Voltan, the only servant that remained loyal to count Edmond. The story isn't always very plausible and contains quite a few immense holes. I'm sure there are easier ways for Sire de Maledroit to torture his relatives than to rely on the bad attitude of an outsider? Or how is it possible that, for twenty whole years, Blanche doesn't even suspect that her father is kept prisoner in the castle while everybody else knows? Yet, despite these and several other improbabilities, "the Strange Door" is an entertaining Gothic horror film with superb decors, a fair amount of tension and poetic dialogs. The last sequences are particularly exciting, as the castle turns out to be a labyrinth filled with eerie death traps and dark corridors. It's nice to see Karloff star in a heroic role for a change. Recommended!