Mystery writer Cornelia Van Gorder has rented a country house called "The Oaks", which not long ago was the scene of some murders committed by a strange and violent criminal known as "The Bat". Meanwhile, the house's owner, bank president John Fleming, has recently embezzled one million dollars in securities and has hidden the proceeds in the house, but is killed before he can retrieve it.
Acting
Agnes Moorehead's frantic energy carries every scene she's in.
Practical Effects
That bat costume is gloriously unconvincing — embrace it.
Writing
Crane Wilbur's dialogue crackles with theatrical zingers.
Director
Crane Wilbur
Vincent Price
Dr. Malcolm Wells
Agnes Moorehead
Cornelia van Gorder
Gavin Gordon
Lt. Andy Anderson
John Sutton
Warner, the Chauffeur
Lenita Lane
Lizzie Allen
Elaine Edwards
Dale Bailey
Darla Hood
Judy Hollander
John Bryant
Mark Fleming
Harvey Stephens
John Fleming
Riza Royce
Jane Patterson
Robert B. Williams
Detective Davenport
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was the fourth film adaptation of Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1920 play, which itself was adapted from her novel — Hollywood loved recycling this property.
Released the same year as Psycho, this represents the dying gasp of old dark house mysteries before Hitchcock rewired horror entirely.
US
