The Raven (1935)

 The Raven (1935)

The Raven released in 1935 was the last of the Universal trilogy based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe starring Bela Lugosi, this film was also an early example of a horror film being enforced by the Hays Code and was banned in several locations for its graphic violence and it was accused of being "horror for horror's sake" and not offering anything of a higher purpose.   To be fair this is a film about a Dr. who has gone mad and has recreated torture devices based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.   This film isn't really an adaption of Poe's poem, but it is inspired by the torture that is used in multiple Poe stories.  Bela Lugosi's character plays a doctor who is obsessed with Poe, and throughout the film he can be heard reciting the poem.  Let's be honest, to hear Bela Lugosi recite Poe's The Raven is reason enough for me, and then to see Boris Karloff as a supporting character, playing a hideous monstrous character, while Lugosi gets the spotlight, is a treat, it is just too bad that even though he is a supporting character, and Lugosi is the main character, Karloff still received top billing, it would really be nice to see Lugosi getting the credit that he deserves, rather than being forced into Karloff's shadow. Maybe this film about desire and torture is horror for horror's sake, but isn't that also why we are here, because we love horror?

The Raven was directed by Louis Friedlander (Lew Landers), with a screenplay by David Boehm.  The film was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures in 1935, and because of its release date, it was subject to the censorship of the Hays Code, which greatly affected the release of the film, and resulted in it being banned or heavily edited in various locations.   Many critics at the time of its release criticized the film for having nothing to do with Poe's poem, but in doing so feel like they missed the point.   This is not a film adaptation of any specific work of Poe, but more so about the main characters obsession with Poe which lead him to create his torture chambers.

The Raven stars Bela Lugosi as Dr Richard Vollin, Boris Karloff as Edmond Bateman, Lester Matthews as Jerry Halden, Irene Ware as Jean Thatcher (the object of Dr. Vollin's desire), Samuel S Hinds as her father Judge Thatcher, Spencer Charters as Bertram Brant, Inez Courtney as Mary Burns, Ian Wolfe as Geoffrey, and Maidel Turner as Mrs Harriet Grant.  The role of Dr Vollin might be Lugosi's most evil characters, who uses his obsession with Edgar Allen Poe's literature as a way to create torture devices, for when he feels tortured inside, he releases that by torturing others.  He is a sadistic monster, and since he can't have Jean, he comes up with an elaborate scheme to torture her, her father, and her boyfriend.  A "if I can't have you, then no one will" thought process.  Karloff plays the role of a criminal who comes to Dr. Vollin to try to get him to make his face less ugly, which Dr. Vollin purposely makes him into a deformed creature, and promises him that if he does his bidding that he will fix his face.  But because of Jean's kindness to him, he finds compassion for her, and is torn between wanting a non ugly face, and wanting to save Jean.

If you have not yet seen The Raven, I highly recommend checking this film out, it is probably the most evil of the classic Universal horror films, with Lugosi playing one of the most evil monsters of his career, and he does it so amazingly well.   The Raven is a great example of why Bela Lugosi is my favourite actor, I like how his character starts off reasonable enough, almost sympathetic in the way that he has fallen for a younger woman whose life he has saved, and who is kind to him, and might actually be returning his feelings to a degree.  But then when her father tries to interfere, you see his character snap, and you see his rapid descent into a sadistic madness, and he plots to take out his inner torture on those who he feels are causing it.   This is a wickedly evil film, and there was a reason that it was banned in many locations upon release, and why it was a major target of the Hays Code, and maybe even a part of why the Code began to be more strongly enforced.  Is horror for horrors sake a valid form of art?  I think in the case of The Raven the answer is definitely yes, and The Raven might have paved the way for the "torture porn" films of today, like Saw and Hostel, I think that sadistic horror for horrors sake might have its roots in The Raven.  The film is just an amazing and wickedly evil classic.  I feel like this is a must-see film had has a place in every horror film collector's library.  So if you come across a copy of this classic, don't pass it up.