The Strange Door (1951)

Waste of time

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

I'm surprised at having never heard of this film because it's certainly part of the genre I enjoy. To see Charles Laughton and Boris Karloff as the stars, I thought it was worth a look. Of course, it is full of formulaic stuff, with the madman Laughton carrying decades of anger after being jilted, exacting his revenge at the daughter of his adversary. He lives in a hideous mansion, full of torture devices and secrets. He is surrounded by toadies whom he mistreats, but who are beholding to him. A young man is shanghaied because he is a scoundrel. Laughton wants him to become the groom to the young woman's bride. Karloff, for some reason, is able to lurk around the castle, peeking through doors and protecting a prisoner. Of course, love will out and that throws a monkey wrench into things. There is also the classic flaw of the villain just going a bit too far in his efforts to gain vengeance. Still, there is lots of suspense and a satisfactory plot line.

Noble-born cad Dennis (Stapley) has been tricked into a forced stay at the eerie manor of the Sire de Maletroit (Charles Laughton), an evil madman who cannot get over the death of his beloved, twenty years after she married his brother (Paul Cavanagh) instead and subsequently passed away during childbirth.This film starts as a period piece and slowly turns into a horror story. Quite slowly, in fact, to the point where you may even doubt if the horror aspects are going to arise. But this plays out well, building the characters and situation for the events that are to come.While this is sometimes considered a Boris Karloff film, Karloff actually has a rather small role to play. It ought to be called a Charles Laughton film, because Laughton shines. He has such charisma, stealing every scene (in a good way) and leaving you wanting more. He ought to be a bigger deal than he is.

The film begins with Sire Alain de Maletroit (Charles Laughton) meeting some of his employees at a pub (circa 1750 give or take a week). The agents indicate that they have found a real scoundrel--a horrible man who is a liar and debaucher. Why, you don't know, but they then set up this scoundrel to get into a fight an seemingly kill a man. Then, as he runs away, he's taken by carriage to Laughton's manor. It seems that the scoundrel has been recruited for a special job--to marry Laughton's niece in order to make her miserable! Why would Laughton's character do this? Well, it seems that 20 years earlier, a woman was supposed to marry him but instead ran off with his brother. Shortly afterwords, she died in childbirth (with the niece) and Laughton has plotted all those years to make his brother (who he keeps locked in the dungeon) and the niece miserable. Nice guy, huh?! Boris Karloff is also in the film as one of Laughton's servants. However, he hates his master and wants to help the lady escape her mad Uncle's clutches. And, in a strange twist, the scoundrel turns out to be not such a bad guy after all, and he also vows to rescue the lady. Part of this is because he just saw the man he supposedly killed in the pub--and he knows that Laughton cannot be trusted. Part of this is because he's fallen for the niece.For Laughton, this sort of film suits him. Never was he accused of being a subtle actor and here he could allow himself to be bombastic and cruel and eat up the scenery--he was a good choice for the role. Karloff, on the other hand, had a role that wasn't particularly complex or interesting--many actors could have handled this role just as well.Overall, it's a cool little horror film--in particular, because the horror is man-made---usually the scariest kind! After all, Frankenstein or Dracula lack the cruelty that Laughton's character has. Despite this, the film isn't overly vivid--and this is a good thing. If the movie were done these days, the subtlety would all be gone and gore would replace it. Here, good writing and acting (minor concerns, I know) are allowed to shine--making for a very satisfying tale of revenge and evil.

Good Old Boris! He always said "I'll never retire...I want to go out with greasepaint on my face and my boots on" In 1952 he was 65 years old. Charles Laughton was 53 at the time, but looked considerably older. Together their performances in this film make it worth the watch. Laughton chews the scenery a bit in places but his over the top acting make it that much more fun.Based on a Robert Louis Stevenson short story this 80+ minute film has much going for it: fist fights, carriage chases, deception and trickery, murders, and a love story thrown in for good measure.And Good Old Boris, although shot and stabbed, manages to help save the day just in the nick of time.Boris was a trouper. Watching him crawl across the damp cobblestones I was reminded that in his remaining 17 years he continued to work in films, never complaining, and often performing in grueling weather conditions where he always seemed to end up caught in the rain, lying in a puddle, or dunked in a vat of water.Watch this film for the fun of it. The plot holds together just fine and it is an enjoyable glimpse of two veteran actors who make the most of their roles.