Director: Crane Wilbur
Stars: Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Gavin Gordon, Lenita Lane, John Sutton, Harvey Stephens
Year: 1959
Rating: N/A
Famous mystery writer Cornelia van Gorder (Agnes Moorehead) has rented a rented out a lovely country home called The Oaks in which to write her latest novel. Staying there only with her assistant and the bare bones of staff she was able to hire locally, it means nothing to Cornelia to learn that the house was - in the past - the scene of some brutal murders committed by a criminal only known as The Bat; to her, this is even more fodder for her writing, even if the home's legend has handicapped her a bit in finding more local people willing to work for her there.
Meanwhile, the current owner of the home, bank president John Fleming (Harvey Stephens), is on a hunting trip with his friend, Dr. Malcolm Wells (Vincent Price), when he confesses to Wells that he's embezzled over a million dollars from his bank in negotiable securities, and wants Wells' help in faking his death (in exchange for half the money) so he can get away with his crime. When Fleming confesses, however, that he's hidden the money somewhere in The Oaks, Wells kills Fleming instead, determined to find that money and keep it all for himself.
And soon The Bat is back, face covered with a dark cloth and clutching a large, claw-shaped weapon in his hand as he stalks those living at The Oaks in search of (presumably) the million dollars. Soon another murder occurs in the home, revealing to Cornelia's sleuthing mind that the money is hidden somewhere in the house, and though at first viewers of the film will just assume The Bat is Dr. Wells, the film goes through a few twists and turns, until you're unsure of just WHO the villain is ... or who his next victim may be.
Call it corny or sometimes even melodramatic - this film is a lot of fun. Agnes Moorehead, terrific in everything she touches, is no less terrific here with the B-movie script, and Vincent Price adds the perfect blend of menace and humor to the film as Dr. Wells. Even through the story's holes and the occasional character doing something that seems a little illogical, the film holds up with some truly suspenseful moments, and a satisfying ending that will keep you guessing the identity of The Bat until the very end.
This was the kind of Saturday afternoon movie you'd eat up on TV as a kid, fun and suspenseful, and you should enjoy it no less now. B-movie making at its best. *** - Reel Cool
Stars: Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Gavin Gordon, Lenita Lane, John Sutton, Harvey Stephens
Year: 1959
Rating: N/A
Famous mystery writer Cornelia van Gorder (Agnes Moorehead) has rented a rented out a lovely country home called The Oaks in which to write her latest novel. Staying there only with her assistant and the bare bones of staff she was able to hire locally, it means nothing to Cornelia to learn that the house was - in the past - the scene of some brutal murders committed by a criminal only known as The Bat; to her, this is even more fodder for her writing, even if the home's legend has handicapped her a bit in finding more local people willing to work for her there.
Meanwhile, the current owner of the home, bank president John Fleming (Harvey Stephens), is on a hunting trip with his friend, Dr. Malcolm Wells (Vincent Price), when he confesses to Wells that he's embezzled over a million dollars from his bank in negotiable securities, and wants Wells' help in faking his death (in exchange for half the money) so he can get away with his crime. When Fleming confesses, however, that he's hidden the money somewhere in The Oaks, Wells kills Fleming instead, determined to find that money and keep it all for himself.
And soon The Bat is back, face covered with a dark cloth and clutching a large, claw-shaped weapon in his hand as he stalks those living at The Oaks in search of (presumably) the million dollars. Soon another murder occurs in the home, revealing to Cornelia's sleuthing mind that the money is hidden somewhere in the house, and though at first viewers of the film will just assume The Bat is Dr. Wells, the film goes through a few twists and turns, until you're unsure of just WHO the villain is ... or who his next victim may be.
Call it corny or sometimes even melodramatic - this film is a lot of fun. Agnes Moorehead, terrific in everything she touches, is no less terrific here with the B-movie script, and Vincent Price adds the perfect blend of menace and humor to the film as Dr. Wells. Even through the story's holes and the occasional character doing something that seems a little illogical, the film holds up with some truly suspenseful moments, and a satisfying ending that will keep you guessing the identity of The Bat until the very end.
This was the kind of Saturday afternoon movie you'd eat up on TV as a kid, fun and suspenseful, and you should enjoy it no less now. B-movie making at its best. *** - Reel Cool
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