The Bat

She might not have been a critic's darling, but the reading public loved author Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876-1957.) Her 1907 novel THE CIRCULAR STAIRCASE was among her most popular works, and in 1917 Rinehart joined forces with playwright Avery Hopwood to adapt it to the stage. After three years of work and much revision, THE BAT's combination of eccentric characters, spooky effects, slapstick humor and mystery took the New York stage by storm. And in 1926 it became one of the most popular films of the late silent era.

The plot was clichéd even in 1920, and considerably more so by 1926--but this is actually part of the film's charm. New York is beset by a vicious killer and brilliant thief called "The Bat," whose crime spree has left police baffled. Cornelia Van Gorder (Emily Fitzroy) and her niece Dale (Jewel Carmen) have leased a mansion in the countryside, but it soon transpires that their choice has been unfortunate: the owner has died, his bank has been robbed, the money is concealed in the house... and The Bat wants it! Before you can say "It's the BAT!" there are secret passages, suspicious characters, screaming maids, and shots in the dark. According to film lore, THE BAT was actually filmed at night, the better to emphasize the gloomy atmosphere; if so, director Roland West (husband of actress Jewel Carmen) made a good decision here, for the film is memorable for its shadowy look. The miniatures of the opening scenes have been widely praised and the sets are elaborate and extremely well photographed (Cedric Gibbons, no less, was the art director of note); the costume for the elusive Bat is lots of 1920s fun; and the cast is quite good besides.

The cast is particularly noteworthy for its inclusion of Jack Pickford, the wild and scandal plagued brother of silent star Mary Pickford. The combination of sound, drugs, alcohol, and sex would destroy his career before the decade ended, and although Mary Pickford certainly promoted his career he shows that his talents warranted her support. He's quite good. Most memorable, however, is actress Louise Fazenda, who chews scenery as the comically hysterical maid Lizzie--but indeed the entire cast is very fine and you find little of the broad acting style that troubles many silent films.

For many years THE BAT was considered a "lost" film, but not only did a single copy survive, it proves in extremely good condition as well, and the transfer on the Alpha Video DVD release is quite good. What isn't good is the original score, credited to Paul David Bergel. Not only is it utter atrocious in terms of music, it actually works against the film, making the action feel a great deal slower than it really is. Even so, this is the long-thought-lost THE BAT, it's quite good, and you can always turn the sound off! While it isn't quite as stylish as the slight later THE CAT AND THE CANARY, to which it is often compared, THE BAT was quite an influential film in its own right and will likely charm fans of silent film. It also had a long life: not only would receive at least one major remake, author Mary Roberts Rinehart would actually rewrite the play into yet another novel--and no less than Agatha Christie would borrow a bit of the plot for the legendary play THE MOUSETRAP. Thoroughly enjoyable for fans of silent cinema.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

This film, like the play that it comes from asked the audience to keep the secret of the Bat secret so I will do the same and so I'll only speak in generalities.

One of the grand old dark house films this is the story of the super criminal known as The Bat and his attempt to steal a great fortune.

This film isn't the best ever made. The passage of time has diminished its impact a bit. Part of the problem is that at times the film has to wrestle with its stage origins, things seem to stagnate and you become bored. However at other times this film soars with a visual style that has rarely been matched. The mask of the villain for example hasn't been equaled. Thankfully its always watchable.

Certainly worth a look.

An outstanding picture in so many ways. Based on the play by Mary Roberts Rhinehart, The Bat tells the story of a master criminal who tries to scare some people out of an old, dark house. The trouble is that there are other criminals afoot, and the story becomes a mystery as to who is hiding behind the mask(looking very much like the inspiration for Batman for a young Bob Kane). The acting is very good for this silent picture and first of several film adaptations of Rhinehart's work. Lousise Fazenda really steals much of her screen time as an easily frightened maid/companion. She uses her face to its limits whether it be for screaming or being childish. A real treat to watch. Emily Fitzroy is equally good in her role as a woman with a lot of smarts. The real star here though is Roland West, who takes parlour room material and turns it into something grandiose. The mood West creates is hypnotic. The camera shots he uses are phenomenal. West also is ably assisted by the tremendous sets employed by art director William Cameron Menzies. The house is awesome and the opening settings are just breath-taking.Another real plus here is the titles used throughout the film. they are informative, yet not too wordy. They help create, maintain, and sustain suspense throughout the picture. This is a craft not to be too easily belittled. The film was and is an absolute joy!

No hesitation in giving this movie a 10.In the past I've given some movies an 8 but compared to them "The Bat" deserves an 15,honestly.Taking into consideration that it's vintage it does so much without the benefit of modern technology.The viewer is given the impression that the main setting takes place in a huge mansion with 3 or 4 levels(I lost count),with it's dark shadows and at tmes slanted looking scenery it can be dreamy looking.The setting is only one of the ingredients that makes this movie so entertaining,it goes back and forth from being funny to scary smoothly,it seems to have the viewer at it's mercy.One of the interesting characters is Bloodhound Anderson-super sleuth,with his derby hat he resembles Mr.McNab the truant officer from "little lulu" comic books.He does his share of trembling while holding two six shooters.Adding plenty of comedy also is the maid played by the very popular Louise Fazenda.The movie overall is eerie and suspenseful with the Bat fierce looking.Watch it by yourself in a dark room.

This 1926 film is one of the first films in the "spooky house" genre. The plot is simple, "The Bat" is a killer who is trying to get a wealthy woman and her niece out of a huge mansion that was left over when a bank president dies. Hidden in the house is $200,000 in cash, and its a race to try and find the money before "The Bat" gets to it.

The film stars are probably not very well known today, Emily Fitzroy plays the wealthy Aunt, always doing her knitting, her companion/housekeeper is played by Louise Fazenda, with over the top/slapstick type of comedy. Jack Pickford plays the newly hired gardner, this is before his wife, actress Olive Thomas died of a drug overdose, and not too long before he himself was the victim of an overdose.

The real "star" of the film is Jewel Carmen. She was married to director Roland West at the time. Years later both West and Carmen, long after they were out of the spotlight both would play roles in one of the biggest of Hollywood mysteries, the death of actress Thelma Todd.

West was a business partner in Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe along the West Coast Highway in Los Angeles. Todd and West were having an affair at the time of her mysterious death.

The coroner set Todd's death at a certain time, but Jewel Carmen, a friend of Todd's testified under oath that she saw Todd out driving in her car with an unidentified man, well after the corner had claimed she was already dead.

Some authors have speculated that Todd, who was found slumped dead behind the wheel of her car in a closed garage; a victim of supposed Carbon Monoxide poisoning, was accidentally killed by West when he locked her out of her apartment.