The Man They Could Not Hang (1939)

Excellent, a Must See

A Surprisingly Unforgettable Movie!

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Dr. Henryk Savaard (Boris Karloff) and his assistant are performing an experiment on reviving recently deceased people through use of an artificial heart. Unfortunately, the assistant's girlfriend is scared and runs to the police. They arrive before Savaard can complete the experiment and the assistant dies. Savaard is convicted and executed for murder. However, another assistant uses the artificial heart to bring him back to life. But the good doctor is batspit crazy and out for blood. So he starts killing off those he holds responsible for his death one by one. The first of several movies Karloff made for Columbia where he played a mad scientist type out for revenge. It's formulaic but it works. Karloff carries the movie as always.

In the 1930s, Boris Karloff made several films with VERY similar plots. In these films, he was killed and returned to life--with BAD results. The main plot for this film is from Karloff's "The Walking Dead" and very similar to "The Man Who Lived Again". Clearly "The Man They Could Not Hang" was a VERY derivative film! Yet, despite the very repetitive nature of these films, they are very enjoyable.The film begins with Karloff doing some strange research that will allow him to do heart transplants. He gets one of his assistants to allow him to kill him--with the intention that he would then revive him with his new experimental system. However, the assistant's girlfriend (Ann Doran) is an idiot. Instead of letting Karloff finish the experiment, she runs for the police. The police break in and won't allow Karloff to revive the man--insisting it isn't possible and jailing him. Soon, Karloff is indicted for murder and is tried, convicted and sentenced to death. However, another assistant is able to obtain Karloff's corpse and soon revives the once-good doctor. However, now Karloff is no longer a kindly researcher but decides to spend the rest of the film killing everyone responsible for his death sentence. I liked this portion best, but unfortunately, his quest is cut short and the film ends.Overall, enjoyable and Karloff, once again, is terrific. The only big problem, other than the repetitive nature of the script, is the acting of Doran--who, frankly, was terrible in the few scenes in which she appeared.

Hell hath no fury like Dr. Saavard! Boris Karloff stars as Dr. Saavard, a scientist condemned to hang for killing a volunteering subject whose artificial heart transplant procedure is interrupted by police. He and assistant Lang(Byron Foulger)had induced death by using gas to stop the test subject's heart when the dead man's fiancé,and Saavard's nurse Betty Crawford(Ann Doran), afraid for her boyfriend's well-being, goes to the police hoping to save him before he is put out. The police and doctor on call would not allow Saavard one hour to save his guinea pig's life and is put on trial for murder. When the jury sentences Saavard to hang, he has one last chance to tell those who ultimately had his life in their hands that they would pay for killing such a scientist who could do good for humanity instead of bad. Once he is dead, assistant Lang resurrects Saavard with the artificial heart..Saavard, full of rage and anger towards those blind with disbelief in the human advancement of science in saving others through medical achievements too narrow-minded to see the future, will see that six of those jury members who were adamant in his execution would die the way he did. Then he tricks the judge, attorneys, coroner, & Betty into meeting at his house, locking them into a living room with booby traps killing them at an appointed time while he torments them across an intercom. Booby traps include an electrical grid that holds them in the room, a poison-needled phone receiver, and plans to shoot Betty with a rifle when he cuts out the lights. The only escape for the group is Saavard's daughter, Janet(Lornay Gray) who arrives to find what her father has done..she had not know that her father was actually alive and will push for the madness to stop.Moves at such a fast pace, I wished it would continue. The premise is really spectacular considering Karloff could lock away those he deemed a threat to medical progress. I think his Dr. Savaard was more enraged about that than his being executed. In a sense, he wasn't on trial(in his mind anyway)as much as his desire to see the advancement of life for future generations..yet, here are these cynics who believe this isn't feasible and condemn him to death, eliminating a bright mind that could possibly advance human life. I think what was thrilling to me was how Savaard not only proves them wrong using his mere presence as the example, but his having them cornered like rats with no escape. Karloff has two scenes with dialogue he delivers so soundly and painfully, I shuttered. It's so convincing, his argument regarding what they were doing..and did..to him. Great little B-movie that deserves to be seen by Karloff enthusiasts. Yet, in honesty, he was quite mad and any argument he could've made regarding his miracle of science was lost when he decided to seek retribution. I think the final scene was perfect..if they wanted him gone, there was no way in hell the community would benefit from his genius.

"The Man They Could Not Hang" is an interesting little film if only for its foretelling of artificial hearts and organ transplants by many years.Dr. Henryk Savaard (Boris Karloff) has invented an artificial heart that has been successful in bringing animals back to life after they have been clinically dead. Savaard now wants to try the procedure on a human ans medical student Bob Roberts (Stanley Brown) agrees to be the guinea pig. His fiancé, Betty Crawford (Ann Doran), who is Savaard's nurse is fearful for Roberts' life.As the experiment begins Betty goes to the police in an attempt to stop the experiment. Reporter "Scoop" Foley (Robert Wilcox) overhears Betty's pleas and goes ahead to Savaard's home where he meets Savaard's daughter Janet (Lorna Gray) with whom he strikes up a friendship. Police Lt. Shane (Don Beddoe) arrives at Savaard's laboratory before he can bring the young man back to life, and arrests him for murder. Savaard is tried and found guilty and is sentenced to hang. Before he is sentenced, Savaard vows revenge on those who had a hand in his conviction.Following his execution, Savaard's body is turned over to his assistant Dr. Lang (Byron Foulger) who following Savaard's procedure, brings Savaard back to life. Weeks later, several of the jurors who voted for Savaard's conviction turn up hanged, apparently suicides.Using a note from trial Judge Bowman (Charles Trowbridge) as bait, Savaard lures the remaining parties for his revenge to his home and traps them therein. Included are the Judge, DA Drake (Roger Pryor), Jury Foreman Kearney (Dick Curtis), Betty Crawford, the Coroner (Joe De Stefani) and Lt. Shane. "Scoop" Foley is also entrapped having "crashed" the party.Savaard plans to systematically murder each person at 15 minute intervals. Judge Bowman is the first and dies by electrocution. Next Kearney is poisoned. Betty is targeted next, but before Savaard can complete his murderous scheme, his daughter Janet arrives and......................Karloff as usual gives a great performance. He moves from a kindly dedicated scientist to a madman bent on murder and revenge with ease.The use of an artificial heart put this modest little programmer several years ahead of its time.