Mjeteconer Just perfect...

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Pluskylang Great Film overall

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

MartinHafer Beginning is a bit like "The Man They Could Not Hang"--innocent man condemned to death is spared by his doctor friend. It also is a bit like "The Man Who Lived Again"--both are Boris Karloff films from the 1930s. So, if you have a sense of déjà vu, this might be why.The film stars Basil Rathbone and Herbert Rudley. Rudley has been falsely accused of murder and is about to be executed. His 'friend', Rathbone, gives him a potion to make him appear dead--then instead of burying him, Rathbone will use him as an assistant in his brain research. What Rudley doesn't realize is that this research is being done on live humans--humans that Rathbone renders unconscious with his 'black sleep' formula. Unfortunately, Rathbone's plans for Rudley aren't all that altruistic--tune in and find the evil truth.This film has lots of appearances very horror notables--though most are not very satisfying, as their roles were very, very small. Along for the ride are Akim Tamiroff in a very creepy role--and the most complex of the guest stars. As for Lon Chaney, Jr. and Bela Lugosi, both have thankless non-speaking roles and are rather wasted. And, out of the blue, John Carradine appears near the end of the film...and then overacts wildly. And, along for the ride with him is Tor Johnson--of Ed Wood fame. I liked seeing all these guys--I just wish the script had given them more to say and do. It's like a great opportunity somewhat squandered.The film is entertaining--mostly because the plot is quite good and has a few nice twists. Unfortunately, however, there are also some moments with LOTS of cheese--most notably Carradine's bizarre performance. But the good well outweighs the bad and is fun.

lastliberal Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi, and Lon Chaney all in the same film. No matter what the films flaws, the presence of these three portends a film that will be worth watching.Add to that John Carradine (House of the Long Shadows), Tor Johnson (Plan 9 From Outer Space, The Beast of Yucca Flats), and Akim Tamiroff (For Whom the Bell Tolls, The General Died at Dawn). A fine supporting cast of horror characters.Loonies, religious nuts,mutants, dungeons. and exposed brain matter. A refreshingly intelligent premise and a completely deranged finale that comes out of nowhere.Well worth watching.

Mikel3 'The Black Sleep' starred an impressive list of horror film stars, Basil Rathbone, John Carradine, Lon Chaney Jr, Bela Lugosi and even Tor Johnson. Peter Lorre was almost in it too, but they could not meet his salary requirements. The rating at the IMDb was 5.8 out of 10 stars. Frankly I feel it was over-rated. I was disappointed. Basil Rathbone did his best using his talents to bring some class to the production . Like Peter Cushing, I don't believe he can give a bad performance even in a poor quality film. I understand this film had a 12 day shooting schedule and a budget of $225, 000. Reginald Le Borg did a bad job directing. The plot premise was nothing new and was done many times before to greater effect...the story of a genius scientist willing to sacrifice and mutilate the innocent in order do experiments that might save someone he loves. It was predictable from start to finish. The best part was the way our mad doctor saved a man from hanging. I wonder what a studio like Hammer, with director Terrence Fisher at the helm might have done with this film and it's cast. It had potential in the right hands.It turned out the only reason to watch 'The Black Sleep' IMO was to check out the all star cast. That was also rather depressing. It was obvious for instance that Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney were in a poor state, their best films were behind them. Especially the best films for Mr. Lugosi. Neither were given any lines to speak in the film. John Carradine, like Rathbone did his best with what he had to work with. And Tor Johnson was...well...Tor Johnson. He is pretty much the same type of mindless brute in all his roles. I did wonder whether he and Bela did any reminiscing about working together with Ed Wood on 'Bride of the Monster' the previous year.There was one dungeon set with stairs near the end that had me wondering if they were using the same set used in 'Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein' eight years earlier. The set looked very familiar down to the location of the stairs and doors. Since this was not a Universal film that is probably unlikely.Overall I would not recommend this film unless you are a die hard fan of it's stars and would like to see them no matter what the film.

bkoganbing Oddly enough The Black Sleep was some years ahead of its time medically speaking. The title refers to a drug from India that scientists Basil Rathbone uses to do that. Today it's a technique to enable recovery from certain illnesses or injuries. But being that this is Basil Rathbone mad scientist you know the drug will be used for all kinds of nefarious purposes. Rathbone gets Dr. Herbert Rudley out of prison to assist him by use of his coma inducing Black Sleep. Rudley is in prison for a murder he didn't commit. When he 'dies' before the death sentence is carried out that's the end of it. But Rathbone has a lot of work for Rudley to do, operations on some willing and not so willing patients. What it's all about you have to see The Black Sleep for.If you do see it you're in for a treat because with a cast of scene stealing actors such as Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Jr., and John Carradine, this is not to be missed. All three of their characters are products of Rathbone's failed experiments. Carradine in particular is joy. He plays a deranged man who thinks he's a Crusader King and he's overacting outrageously and I'm loving every minute of it. Also in the film is Akim Tamiroff as a gypsy grave robber who also aids Rathbone.All these people have legions of fans still. So if you want to see a film that's a combination of Frankenstein and the Island of Dr. Moreau with a great cast you can't miss with The Black Sleep.