The Black Raven

This is a confusing mystery with lots of darkness and bumbling around. George Zucco is really the only interesting character. He seems to be part of the criminal element, yet he seems to have dignity and integrity. When a group of mismatched people arrive at a hotel in an intense rainstorm, including a gangster, a corrupt politician, his daughter and her fiancée, and an escaped convict, the action gets going. There is also an embezzler with 50,000 dollars who plays the Casper Milquetoast type. His money leads to all kinds of shenanigans. There's also a sheriff played by Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless), who is a bit of a buffoon. Throw in Glen Strange, former Frankenstein monster, and you have about as odd an assortment as you can imagine. The pacing is pretty bad. There is a lot of running around in the dark and people looking through windows. Still, it's Zucco's character that really captivates. The bad thing is, "What is his motivation?" He observes and comments. He is trafficking criminals to Canada, yet we don't get enough information to really understand him. It's pretty forgettable, but has some moments.

George Zucco runs a little country inn called the Black Raven. He himself is also known as the Black Raven—a mysterious underworld figure whose services include assistance to those hoping to slip quietly over the nearby border into Canada.

He has guests: his former partner has busted out of prison to come and get revenge on him; a gangster on the lam (Noel Madison) wants help getting to Canada; a bank clerk (Byron Foulger) stops on his way to Canada with a briefcase full of money; and an eloping couple (Wanda McKay and Bob Livingston—billed here as Robt. Randall) stop for the night, or at least until the storm lets up. Hot in pursuit is the eloping girl's father, who also happens to be a powerful and shady political figure and a bitter rival of the fleeing gangster.

When one of these guests turns up dead and the bag of money goes missing, the Raven has a house full of suspicious characters throwing around accusations and digging around for the money.

The action moves along pretty fast and the plot mostly holds together. The dialog is never particularly original but contains a certain amount of dry humor— Foulger: "Oh, dear, how awful. How'd it happen?" Zucco: "Evidently someone didn't like him."

Zucco is good and is basically the hero—although we know he operates outside of the law, he takes a certain interest in protecting the young couple in particular. Glenn Strange is the Raven's handyman; it's kind of funny to see him as comic relief, as he shivers at shadows and falls down stairs. Charles Middleton is also essentially a comic figure as the clueless sheriff. (Here he has the authoritative voice but none of the brains of the Emperor Ming.)

The cast give enthusiastic performances, the storm effects and lighting create the right atmosphere…it's lots of fun.

One dark and stormy night, an escaped convict, an embezzler, a runaway daughter, her intended and her father, and a gangster take refuge in a remote inn called "The Black Raven" after the nickname of a second gangster who owns it; and murder ensues.

Standard fare with some predictability, however it's an entertaining one hour with loads of atmosphere, effective light and shadows and some good build-up. Flat in places, though, but not enough to mar the enjoyment. There's good performances from all, especially George Zucco. There's a diverse group of characters; one a hoodlum who is after the stolen money, runaway lovers and the father of the daughter determined to split them up, a clumsy Glenn Strange and a weedy embezzler.

"The Black Raven", released by PRC is a surprisingly good low budget mystery running just under an hour.

The story takes place during a raging storm that has knocked out the local roads and bridge. A group of varied travellers are then forced to seek shelter in a small hotel run by the mysterious Amos Bradford (George Zucco). The first to arrive is an old nemesis Whitey Cole (I. Stanford Jolley) who has a score to settle with Bradford. Bradford and his oaf-ish assistant Andy (Glenn Strange) overpower him and tie him up but he manages to escape and remain in the shadows.

Shortly thereafter a gangster, Bardoni (Noel Madison) arrives on his way to Canada. Next a meek bank teller (Byron Foulger) who has embezzled $50,000 arrives followed by a young couple Lee Winfield (Wanda McKay) and Allen Bentley (Bob Randall) who are also running off to Canada to get married. Turns out Lee is the daughter of Bardoni's gangland boss (Robert Middlemass) who is the next to arrive looking for his daughter.

Naturally everyone takes an interest in the $50K. Then Winfield is murdered and the Sheriff (Charles Middleton) arrives on the scene. As in all such mysteries suspicion falls on each of the principals until the real murderer is unmasked in the final reel.

This compact little mystery is an entertaining little film noire. Director Sam Newfeld keeps the story moving and the audience guessing. The film is bolstered by its veteran "B" movie cast. Zucco, always under rated, was a staple of such films in the 40s and gives a excellent performance as Bradford. Glenn Strange is also good in a Lon Chaney Jr. type role as the simple-minded Andy. Foulger made a career out of playing meek little bank tellers. And Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless in the Flash Gordon serials) gets to play a good guy for a change.

An entertaining hour.

Ever-delightful George Zucco, that great genre character-star of the Golden Age of Hollywood, is front and centre in this zippy, enjoyable PRC programmer. He plays Amos Bradford, the proprietor of an inn near the U.S. / Canada border whose side business is smuggling criminals across the border. A disparate group of individuals - a milquetoast embezzler (Byron Foulger), a racketeer (Noel Madison), a couple (Robert Livingston, Wanda McKay) attempting to elope, her big shot politician father (Robert Middlemass), and others - gather for an eventful night of murder (during a terrible rain storm, naturally) at Zuccos' establishment.

This is actually quite fun, and it does keep you on your toes regarding the mystery aspect of the story (written by Fred Myton); since there are a few shady types hanging around, and there is more than one motive for wanting the first victim out of the way, the viewer doesn't automatically focus on one character. A strong sense of humour also helps matters a lot, with Amos coming off as a very unflappable and sardonic man, who has a genuine interest in figuring out whodunit. Much of the comedy relief is provided by none other than Glenn Strange, who plays Amos' excitable, bumbling assistant, and he's pretty amusing. Overall, the cast is good. Also appearing are Charles Middleton as a humourless Sheriff and top character actor I. Stanford Jolley as the slimy prison escapee Whitey Cole.

"The Black Raven" has solid atmosphere, an excellent pace (clocking in at BARELY over an hour long), and a bittersweet wrap-up. It's good fun for any fan of thrillers and horror films from this era.

Seven out of 10.