Review- The Man They Could Not Hang

I guess I should explain why I'm reviewing a movie form 1939, and not a current flick. So let me start at the beginning:

Tonight was a wonderful experience. I found out that this place in North Tonawanda called the Riviera Theater is showing films from 1939 this summer as part of a series. I was thrilled! I love old movies, and if I can get the chance to see them on the big screen, that just sweetens the deal.

So I eventually get there. North Tonawanda is quite a hike from Silver Creek, as is just about everything in the Buffalo area, except Dunkirk and Fredonia. Anyway, I get there with time to kill. Fortunately, there's an Irish pub right next to the theater. I stop in for a quick Labatt Blue to kill time.

I bought my ticket and was transported back in time. The Riviera's interior is old-school and gorgeous! It made me think of this now-defunct movie house in the STL called the Avalon. Being there reminded me of some of the good times I had at the Avalon. Plus, it was on $6 to get in, and the snacks were moderately priced. But, the proceeds to go benefit the Riviera restoration efforts. Before the film started there was a brief intro by the director of the Buffalo International Film Festival. Then there was an old-school Popeye cartoon from that era. A real treat all the way around.

Now, onto the main event: I tend to view old movies through a set of rose-colored glasses. Thus, I give them breaks that I don't give to newer films. You have to remember the context of the audience at the time. You have to ask what was going on in American culture at the time? Was there a war? What were peoples' attitudes regarding race relations, politics, etc? But I digress. That said, this movie certainly fits into that mold.

This film is technically classified as a horror film (also, its a B-movie). However, that depends on what people think is scary. In this movie, Boris Karloff plays a mad scientist (go figure). he invents an artificial heart which can reanimate the dead. he tries an experiment, but it goes wrong, and the subject dies. He is charged with murder, tried, and convicted. He is sentenced to death by hanging. After the execution, his former assistant tries the experiment on him, and it works. So, he decides to wreak vengeance on those who sent him to the gallows.

The plot moves pretty fast,a s it's quite a short movie. Film snobs and other pretentious folks would probably find a lot to dislike about this film. But, I must disagree. I've already stated my biases. I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, there was really no "that guy" factor for me. But this may simply be due to my lack of familiarity with the character actors of that era.

As I drove home, I reflected on the movie, as I saw it alone. I came to the conclusion that even though Boris Karloff played a lot of the same character (the mad scientist) he really was quite an underrated actor. I've seen his 2 biggest films, Frankenstein (1931) and The Mummy (1932). Granted, I haven't seen all that many of his movies. But from what I have seen, my 3 favorite performances were in The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), where he reprises his role as the monster, and Isle of the Dead and The Body Snatcher (both 1945). I will definitely be seeing more of this great artist's work.

Here's the link to the Riviera: http://www.rivieratheatre.org/