Scott LeBrun If I went for snark more often in my reviews, I might say that "The Black Sleep" will put *you* into a black sleep. But, in truth, it's not *that* bad. It's just somewhat disappointing, given the gathering of some of the shining lights of the horror genre. This is really more of a period drama (with precious little period recreation - this is mostly shot in interiors) with touches of horror. Its first three quarters are somewhat dull, and talky, and most unfortunate of all, NOT very atmospheric.The story mostly centers around the activities of a deranged doctor, Sir Joel Cadman (Basil Rathbone) who saves a former student, Gordon Ramsey (!) (Herbert Rudley) from the hangman. This he does with the assistance of a drug, the "Black Sleep" of the title, that can make people appear to be dead. Sir Joel intends to have Ramsey assist him in his radical research into the human brain. Ramsey meets such characters as Daphne (Phyllis Stanley), Sir Joels' loyal nurse, two mutes (Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi), and the very fetching young Laurie Monroe (Patricia Blair), while an annoying, talkative gypsy named Odo (Akim Tamiroff) provides Sir Joel with unwilling test subjects."The Black Sleep" is saved, to a degree, by its final quarter, which is good fun, as more characters come crawling out of the woodwork. Among them is a hirsute John Carradine. Don't be fooled; despite his prominent billing, his is little more than a cameo role. The same goes for the hulking Swedish wrestler Tor Johnson, who doesn't show up for a long time. The reasonably likable Rudley does a decent job of carrying the story. He's a good man who claims to be innocent of a murder charge, and there's no reason to doubt him. He's also the moral centre, scoffing at the insanity perpetrated by Sir Joel. Mr. Rathbone is marvelous; his performance does ultimately transcend the material. But performers like Carradine, Lugosi, and Chaney end up rather under utilized.Directed without much style by Reginald Le Borg ("Weird Woman", "Diary of a Madman"), but the score by the talented Les Baxter is definitely worth a listen.Six out of 10.

dougdoepke Fairly classy horror feature. Of course, Rathbone, with his blade-like nose and parsed speech, could impart class to a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Here he's a mad doctor—what else—who's researching brains in order to cure his comatose wife. Meanwhile he's accumulated an all-star line-up of horror performers to help—a raving John Carradine, a ravaged Lon Chaney, a hulking Tor Johnson, a decrepit Bela Lugosi, and a slimy Akim Tamiroff. With a mob like this who needs special effects. Actually, most of the time is taken up with high-brow discussion of medical ethics. Naturally, Rathbone thinks ends justify means, while Rudley considers each life precious. Thus, unlike Rathbone, Rudley thinks research has its ethical limits. In fact, actor Rudley carries much of the narrative. A relative unknown, he gets lesser billing behind the all-stars. Nonetheless, he proves a very capable actor and foil for Rathbone. However, he's not the usual handsome hero and rescuer of damsels in distress. I'm not sure what the producers were reaching for here with the literate script and extended dialogue. Still, there are a few good jolting moments, like when a maniacal Carradine makes a first appearance. Then too, the movie came out at a time when Roger Corman's rubber monsters were dominating the screen, especially drive-ins. Anyway, it's a good chance to catch several horror icons in their declining years (Lugosi would pass just several months after), along with the incomparable Rathbone, a strikingly pretty Blair, and one of Hollywood's many unsung talents, Herbert Rudley.

Spuzzlightyear Very odd horror movie that features Lon Chaney, Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi AND Tor Johnson! Oh, and Akim Tamaraoff.. who? Anyways, Tamaroff plays a doctor, unjustly accused of murder who is saved from the noose from Rathbone, Rathbone knows Tamaroff is a brilliant surgeon, and wants him to join him to get into some exploratory brain surgery Rathbone is doing! Anyways, Rathbone is of course, loony, and Karloff and Lugosi (AND Johnson) are all in the movie playing mute subjects! Poor guys. I felt sorry for them having to do this kind of role. The movie itself is sort of silly, and Tamaroff must've thought he hit the big time playing with these legends! It's Rathbone that shines the brightest here though. I could listen to a non-stop tape of Rathbone for hours.

st-shot The Black Sleep is an inferior mad scientist generic that conjures up past their prime horror masters for marquee value only. With the fight out of their fright you find yourself worrying about their fragile health in this chill less thriller.On the eve of his execution for a murder he did not commit Dr. Ramsay is visited by Sir Joel Cadman who administers a potion to Ramsay to make him appear dead before prison officials. Whisking the body back to his laboratory he revives Ramsay who he needs to help him bring his comatose wife back to life. Ramsay questions such ethics however as Cadmon's staff of assorted flunkies Mungo, Borg, Casimir and Odo the Gypsy resort to unsavory practices in assisting him.Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. are a long way from their Universal hay days as they huff and puff about the castle trying to muster some fright factor who along with John Carradine appear like worn out dummies from a traveling carny fun house all the chill thrills rusted. Basil Rathbone's distinguished air does give the film a small degree of polish in the early moments but as problems arise, nerves fray and things get a little bumpier in the night Rathbone begins to go Colin Clive. Akim Tamirroff's Odo the body snatcher easily steals the show with a wry sense of dark humor; the only way to approach this film if one is to salvage anything from it.