The Black Sleep aka Dr. Cadman's Secret

. . . oddly enough the ones I like MOST have NO speaking parts.One of the last gatherings of classic-horror movie-stars in ONE movie.Highly recommended to collectors, and those of us [in our 60s & 70s], born in the '40s & '50s.

I felt this movie was a missed opportunity for a lot of reasons.Many people have said this was Bela Lugosi's last FULL movie that he made. It was a small, mostly unimportant NON-Speaking part. He was mostly window dressing and this role could have been played by almost anyone. Lon Chaney, Jr. had a little bigger role that he got the most out of. Basil Rathbone was great as he almost always was as he played his part completely straight. John Carradine's part was small but was well played. Tor Johnson's role was window dressing at best. Akim Tamiroff's part was modest but he got a lot out of it.And Herbert Rudley as Dr. Gordon Ramsay does a credible job as well.So I imagine many of you are saying with this great cast what's the problem? Well the main problem is the plot itself. It drags a little in certain spots at the start and then, toward the end, takes off like a rocket and the movie ends fairly abruptly. So pacing was the main problem. The basic story was a good idea (a famous surgeon trying to save his wife from a brain tumor but he needs help and doesn't care what he does to people in order to save his wife) but the actual execution of that basic story leaves a lot to be desired. There was a great movie in there that was not made.I watched this on Amazon Prime - picture was good to very good - sound the same. And since it was at no charge I can't complain much but this was a wonderful cast with a very good premise that just fall flat. Even at that this movie has influenced a lot of directors, etc.I would rate this almost good movie a 7.5 to 8.0 out of 10. What's a shame is this could have been great!

Glad to see this film in its widescreen format. Picture and sound quality is very good and the film has some of the greatest horror stars in cinematic history: Chaney, Lugosi, Rathbone...and Carradine.The "last hurrah" for these actors. Yes, sad in some respects for those Chaney and Lugosi fans, as we see our aged hero's in their decline, but still giving their best.

An uneven classic to be sure. The pacing is erratic and the cinematography is unimaginative. Still, the film has a surprisingly violent climax that is wholly satisfying.The cast is a mish-mash of Horror greats mixed with a handful of nonentities. Lon Chaney Jr is at his best, mostly because he is not called upon to speak. Basil Rathbone plays a fast-talking, obsessive prick (again). Bela Lugosi is inexplicably cast as a mute doorman. I say inexplicably because there was a role available as a Gypsy murderer. Why in God's name didn't they put some bootblack on his hair and let him chew the scenery with a Hungarian accent?For some reason, most of the cast seems to be Americans who are either mangling their fake English accents or, more often, not attempting an accent at all.Still, Tor Johnson and John Carradine make welcome appearances 2/3 of the way through the movie. Carradine immediately steals the film and never gives it back.This isn't a film I would seek out but since I adore classic horror, I would still recommend it to fans who want to indulge in forgotten classics.

Very good acting by all. A classical mixture of medical science and sociopathy. Although gender, Race, and Class prejudices were shown to be part of the evil plot.

So much of this picture is a mess, and you really can see the way the various elements were stitched together, like some cinematic Frankenstein's monster, From Lugosi, to Carradine, to Tor Johnson, to even the otherwise estimable Basil Rathbone, all sleepwalking through their various parts, and this really is a slow snowball of a motion picture that creeks along barely holding your interests until the rolling momentum gathers and in the last 15 minutes really explodes into a very satisfying Gothic nightmare of over the top berserkness, with the mad doctors assistant howling down the hall in flames (with back to the camera so we cant tell it's a stuntman) and Carradine & the female lead screaming at the top of their lungs and grotesque (if inept) facial makeup, the ending is so over the top, much like the conclusion of THE BRAIN THAT WOULDNT DIE from a few years later, that it's worth the wait. All that's missing is Rathbone's head bursting like a water balloon after his final fatal plunge.

Great actorsStory was too spooky for me. I only got through the first half.

So many wonderful horror actors in this movie, that it is a delight to watch just for this reason.The movie itself has an interesting plot- and I enjoyed it greatly for this also. If you are into black and white, scarlet cinema, or just needing a movie for a cold weekend afternoon, then you should not miss this!!

Excellent remastering of what is more a Basil Rathbone feature than the ensemble piece such an impressive cast list would suggest. While Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr, and John Carradine are sadly wasted in this film, Rathbone does an excellent job of carrying most of this picture though credit must also go to Herbert Rudley for his fine performance as well. Reminiscent in many ways of the 1961 William Castle feature Mr. Sardonicus, fans of one film would likely enjoy the other while those looking for a film which not only possesses an equally star studded cast but also utilizes said actors, should look no further than House of Frankenstein (1944).An informative and enjoyable commentary is provided by Tom Weaver who is briefly joined by David Schechter suppling several interesting details regarding the film's score.In short, a nicely paced and intelligently written picture in which all of the insanity promised by the Blu-Ray's cover occurs during the movie's final ten or so minutes. This Blu Ray release is almost certainly the best quality version of The Black Sleep available and so it comes highly recommended.

Reune todas las características tradicionales del buen cine de terror: un siniestro castillo, truenos y relámpagos, humanos convertidos en monstruos. Pero contiene también un antiguo mensaje sobre las tragedias que puede provocar un amor egoísta. El malvado de esta historia no lo parece en absoluto, tan convencido está de que las barbaridades que comete se hacen en nombre de la futura curación de enfermedades. Creo que esa mentalidad es muy real en la historia.El guión es muy adecuado para lo que la película cuenta y el principal actor, Basil Rathbone, antiguo Sherlock Holmes, da el tono exacto de falsa bondad que exige su loco personaje. Para todos los públicos.

Good movie. Contrary to popular belief Lugosis appearance in Plan 9 was just a piece of film stock. Lugosis widow stated in an interview that he knew nothing about that movieLugosi died in 1956 and plan 9 from outer space came out in 1959. Black Sleep a much better flick than Plan 9 from outer space. Though Lugosi had no lines his expressions spoke volumes. Worth owning this one.

Buena película sonido bueno imagen también

Very good transfer of this 1956 mad doctor movie- a horror cast to die for- Basil Rathbone as the doctor and Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, John Carradine and Tor Johnson the results of his failed experiments- sad to see Chaney and Lugosi in non- speaking roles but at least they are there- if you like old horror movies, you will enjoy this!