The Face of Marble (1946)

How sad is this?

good back-story, and good acting

As Good As It Gets

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

For a horror movie, it's pretty hard to come up with a fresh version of reviving the dead. Here well-intentioned scientist Carradine wants no monsters, just an opportunity to give folks a second chance. Of course, things turn out otherwise, when a revived mastiff dog walks through walls on his way to ripping out throats. It doesn't help that creepy housekeeper Maria has her own voodoo plans, while a romantic triangle emerges between Carradine's wife Drake and lab assistant Shayne plus his girl Wriston.Sound complicated. Yes, too bad the script didn't pare down and concentrate on creepy aspects. And I agree with others—we should see more of Carradine who's quite effective in restrained fashion. On other hand, there are those crackling Frankenstein arcs, better than expected for cheapo Monogram, while the spectral images passing through walls are also well done. However, maintaining a spooky mood with a more boffo ending would have really helped. Then too, I could have used more of the marble faces that are both novel and unsettling. But then, this is a low-budget quickie that still manages a few compensations.

Horror legend John Carradine remains a delight to watch, as always, in this mostly routine but reasonably atmospheric tale from Monogram and director William Beaudine; he raises the rating by a point. The rest of the cast is adequate at best. The special effects are actually not bad. The script by Michael Jacoby (based on a story by Edmund L. Hartmann and Wilhelm Thiele) is awfully talky, a clear sign of a very low budget. Still, this is the kind of thing people could still easily enjoy watching in those wee hours of the morning.Carradine portrays Dr. Charles Randolph, a fairly typical mad scientist (actually, he's not THAT mad) who wants more than anything to conquer death and bring the dead back to life. Alas, his experiments are not working out. Sometimes they even have weird side effects, such as his wife's rejuvenated dog developing a taste for blood and the ability to walk through things. Yes, this movie features a "vampire dog" 32 years before "Zoltan Hound of Dracula". Adding another wrinkle to the plot is the conniving housekeeper on the premises, Maria (Rosa Rey).Some plot twists are mildly amusing and help to keep the film somewhat entertaining. At least it has the typically short running time (73 minutes all told) for a genre picture from this era. Female cast members Claudia Drake as Elaine (Randolphs' wife) and Maris Wrixon are easy enough on the eyes. Robert Shayne ('Adventures of Superman') has some likability as Randolphs' colleague and Willie Best adds un-p.c. comedy relief as a pop eyed butler. Rey is a hoot in her role.All in all, this is diverting enough while it lasts.Six out of 10.

Pretty nice black & white horror film starring the great John Carradine as Professor Charles Randolf, a prominent brain surgeon, who retires to his mansion on a cliff that overlooks the sea. Randolf summons one of his best students, scientist David Cochran(Robert Shayne), to partner with him in an obsessive project. The mad professor wants to revive a dead brain. A drown sailor washes up on the shore becoming a perfect subject. The brain is revived; but the sailor's hair turns white and has a face that looks like it was chiseled out of marble...only to die. The dumped body is found and Inspector Norton(Thomas E. Jackson)comes to the mansion asking questions. There is Randolf's wife Elaine(Claudia Drake), the butler Shadrach(Willie Best) and a house maid Maria(Rosa Rey), who dabbles with voodoo. But this will not stop the experimenting. Apt atmosphere that sustains interest. Also in the cast: Maris Wrixon, Neal Burns and Donald Kerr.

Surprisingly atmospheric Monogram entry that features classic horror elements of bringing the dead back to life and voodoo. The story follows two scientists in their attempt to bring the dead back to life. A voodoo housekeeper throws a monkey wrench into their plans. The Great Dane plays a key part to this nifty melodrama.