USA, 1940
70m
35mm film, black and white, 1.37:1
mono, English
An American horror film directed by Arthur Lubin. Bela Lugosi was originally cast as Sovac and Karloff as Professor George Kingsley and Red Cannon but they were recast late in pre-production.
Plot Summary
In order to save the life of his friend Professor Kingsely, brain surgeon Dr Sovac transplants part of the brain from an injured gangster, Red Cannon, into Kingsley's head. Kingsley then develops a split personality and at times, Cannon's personality takes control. When Sovac learns that Cannon has a secret stash of stolen loot, he sets out to find it – but Cannon is determined to stop him and have his revenge on those who tried to murder him.
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: Arthur Lubin
Copyright MCMXL by Universal Pictures Company, Inc.
A Universal picture. Universal presents
Associate Producer: Burt Kelly
Original Screen Play: Kurt Siodmak, Eric Taylor
Director of Photography: Elwood Bredell
Film Editor: Philip Cahn
Musical Director: H.J. Salter
Music: Hans J. Salter; Ralph Freed *; Charles Henderson *; Charles Previn *; Frank Skinner *
Sound Supervisor: Bernard B. Brown
Western Electric Mirrorphonic
Gowns: Vera West
Art Director: Jack Otterson
Associate [Art Director]: Harold MacArthur
Set Decorations: R.A. Gausman [real name: Russell A. Gausman]
Technician: Charles Carroll
Cast
Boris Karloff (Dr Ernest Sovac)
Bela Lugosi (Eric Marnay)
Stanley Ridges (Professor George Kingsley/Red Cannon)
Anne Nagel (Sunny Rogers)
Anne Gwynne (Jean Sovac)
Virginia Brissac (Margaret Kingsley)
Edmund MacDonald (Frank Miller)
Paul Fix (William Kane)
Murray Alper (Bellhop)
Jack Mulhall (bartender)
Joe King (police chief)
John Kelly (taxi driver)
Alternative Titles
Friday the 13th – working title
References
Periodicals
- Fangoria no.149 (January 1996) p.39 – illustrated note
- Kine Weekly no.2106 (11 September 1947) – review
- Monsterscene no.6 p.47 – review
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.7 p.89 – credits, review
- Motion Picture Herald vol.138 no.10 (9 March 1940) – review
- Today's Cinema vol.54 no.4421 (29 May 1940) – review
Books
- Fantastic Films of the Decades Volume 3: The 40s Part 1: 1940-43 by Wayne Kinsey pp.13-16 – illustrated article
- Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movie 1991-1992 p.44 – review, credits
- The Illustrated Frankenstein Movie Guide by Stephen Jones p.38 – review, credits
- The Horror Factory by Bruce Dettman and Michael Bedford pp.77-78 – article
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.37 – credits
- The Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Handbook by Alan Frank pp.23-24 – credits, review
- Universal Horrors by Michael Brunas, John Brunas and Tom Weaver – credits, review
- Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror by Michael Mallory pp.183-185 – illustrated article
