LeonLouisRicci
One of the most creaky, clumsy, talky Horror films of the forties. It talks and talks with pregnant pauses and one of worst acting performances by a lead ever seen on the screen. This Nedrick Young (the love interest) behaves like one of the walking dead.George Zucco is more odd looking than talented and is just about as stiff in all of his roles but here we get two for one. You know you are in trouble when virtually the only thing remotely interesting on screen is the hunchback, Dwight Frye who was also the original Renfield in Dracula (1931) and Fritz in the original Frankenstein (1932). These other films are included in this review just because this is such an empty, slow, inept, and stuffy entry in the low budget lexicon of Horror, that there is not much else to say.Except, the current prints available are so shoddy and the audio and visuals are so muddy that it makes it even more painful to watch than need be. Even with a pristine print it would be lifeless.
Michael O'Keefe
Low budget chiller directed by Sam Newfeld. Veteran actor George Zucco stars as twin brothers: Dr. Lloyd Clayton, a well respected physician, and Dr. Elwyn Clayton, who has been discretely pushed off a cliff because of his deep involvement in the occult sciences. Lloyd begins burning his brothers books on the dark arts knowing that Elwyn always despised him and wanted him discredited. Elwyn's faith in his occult studies enables him to come back to haunt Lloyd. Better yet, he sets out seeking revenge by sucking the blood of his pretty niece Gayle(Mary Carlisle). Just the visions of the walking dead Elwyn in this B&W horror flick is creepy. The short scenes in the graveyard are atmospheric deserving kudos for cinematographer Jack Greenhalgh. If you love the oldies, this will be 64 minutes of fun. Other players: Dwight Frye, Fern Emmett, Nedrick Young and Forrest Taylor.
Michael_Elliott
Dead Men Walk (1943) ** (out of 4) A kind doctor (George Zucco) begins to be stalked by his dead twin brother who just happens to be a vampire. This cheapie from PRC isn't ground breaking in its story but it does feature some nice performances, which make it worth watching. The biggest problem with the movie is that its story is too simple to really work especially when you compare it to better "twin" movies like Boris Karloff's The Black Room. Zucco is a good character actor and he delivers a good performance on both ends of the brothers. Dwight Frye has a small part in the film and is pretty much wasted. Mary Carlisle is rather weak as our lead female. The story doesn't offer anything new or original but the director does do a very good job at building up atmosphere, which is pretty thick throughout.
wes-connors
Make that one "Dead Man" walking. It's George Zucco (as Dr. Elwyn Clayton), practitioner of the Black Arts, who has just been slain, by his abel (okay, able) look-alike brother George Zucco (as Dr. Lloyd Clayton). The film's first mistake is not showing the murder; instead, it is explained, by "bad" Zucco's companion Dwight Frye (as Zolarr). As the vampire, Zucco keeps it all in the family by repeatedly going for the neck of pretty blonde niece Mary Carlisle (Gayle Clayton), quite like they did on "Dark Shadows". Ms. Carlisle's boyfriend, Nedrick Young (Dr. David Bently), is, initially, nonplussed.Story development is unoriginal; obviously, filmmakers expected everyone was familiar with the "Dracula" plot. This variation lets its possibilities slip away by leaving interesting new stones unturned. The graveyard scenes are atmospheric; possibly, they are enhanced by the low budget. The film's conclusion really fires things up; but, a lack of characterization and originality regarding the ending confrontation is a damper. The cast and crew perform well, under the circumstances.**** Dead Men Walk (2/10/43) Sam Newfield ~ George Zucco, Mary Carlisle, Nedrick Young, Dwight Frye
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