Horror Island (1941)

Director:

George Waggner

Writers:

Alex Gottlieb (story)
Victor McLeod (writer)

Release Date:

28 March 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Treasure-hunters encounter murder and mystery at an island castle. |

Plot Keywords:

Island | Mysterious Villain | Overnight In A Haunted House | Night | Castle

Cast

Dick Foran	...	Bill Martin
Leo Carrillo	...	Tobias Clump
Peggy Moran	...	Wendy Creighton
Fuzzy Knight	...	Stuff Oliver
John Eldredge	...	Cousin George
Lewis Howard	...	Thurman Coldwater
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Professor Jasper Quinley
Walter Catlett	...	Sergeant McGoon
Ralf Harolde	...	Rod Grady
Iris Adrian	...	Arleen Grady
Foy Van Dolsen	...	Panama Pete (The Phantom)
Emmett Vogan	...	The Stranger

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #7204)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Universal released this film only 23 days after shooting began.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Upon arriving at the Island Castle, the group of treasure seekers walk from the foyer to the study. A very visible crew member is in frame holding a spotlight on lead man Dick Foran. As the camera pans right, the crew member turns and walks out of frame.

HORROR ISLAND (George Waggner, 1941) **1/2

I had first known about this through a still in the Halliwell Film Guide, though the noted late critic usually dismissed similar programmers: it turned out to be a fun horror comedy (from a story by Curt Siodmak) whose 60-minute length zips by – providing plenty of characters (even if the gangster-on-the-lam and his moll don't really work here), action, old-fashioned thrills (a caped maniac after hidden loot is loose in a remote castle), chuckles – and a surprise villain; the film is a shade overbalanced by the comedy, but the typical Universal atmosphere (and a few of its more notable sets!) are certainly present throughout. It also features a good second-tier cast: likable Dick Foran and cute Peggy Moran – re-united after the superior THE MUMMY'S HAND (1940) – are the leads and they're ably supported by the likes of Leo Carrillo, Fuzzy Knight, Hobart Cavanaugh and Walter Catlett; however, it's Lewis Howard who steals the film as Moran's chronically tired companion – even though he's absent through most of the second half!

Michael Elliott had rated this a *** and I almost did myself – but, in the long run, I don't think the film has quite the same draw as even some of the lesser titles in the Universal monster cycle; still, for an 'old dark house' type of film – of which the studio did their fair share – it's well up to par. Incidentally, I had acquired another copy of this on DVD-R last year, but the disc froze several times during playback and I had to give up after a while; I'm glad I caught up with it eventually, as the film deserves to have a legitimate DVD release along with some of the other rare/lesser-known Universal horrors, like MAN-MADE MONSTER (1941) – which I've never watched! – and NIGHT MONSTER (1942).