"Before I Hang" is one of a couple of Boris Karloff vehicles with similar plots. Here he plays Dr. John Garth, an eminent doctor who's condemned to die for having performed a mercy killing. However, his sentence gets commuted at the last possible second, and he's able to go on with his work. This happens to be trying to defy, even reverse, the ageing process. The bad news is that since this IS a horror film, the serum that Garth devises will have devastating, murderous consequences.
Directed in decent workmanlike fashion by Nick Grinde, "Before I Hang" does resonate more than it might have, even with a fairly routine script by Robert Hardy Andrews. One of the main hooks is the whole idea of assisted suicide, still just as much of a hot button topic as it ever was. There's also the effectiveness of the tragedy element in this story: our antagonist IS sympathetic, and never had meant to do anybody any harm.
The stark, high contrast lighting by Benjamin H. Kline is a strong asset, and Karloff is nicely supported by actors such as the great Edward Van Sloan (as Dr. Howard), Ben Taggart (as the warden), Pedro de Cordoba (as Garths' pianist friend Victor Sondini), and Don Beddoe (as Captain McGraw, the lawman who will investigate a series of stranglings). But make no mistake: Karloff is the main reason to watch. He's touching, and compelling, and appropriately creepy when he needs to be.
Not a particularly memorable film, but a solidly entertaining one.
Seven out of 10.
Directed in decent workmanlike fashion by Nick Grinde, "Before I Hang" does resonate more than it might have, even with a fairly routine script by Robert Hardy Andrews. One of the main hooks is the whole idea of assisted suicide, still just as much of a hot button topic as it ever was. There's also the effectiveness of the tragedy element in this story: our antagonist IS sympathetic, and never had meant to do anybody any harm.
The stark, high contrast lighting by Benjamin H. Kline is a strong asset, and Karloff is nicely supported by actors such as the great Edward Van Sloan (as Dr. Howard), Ben Taggart (as the warden), Pedro de Cordoba (as Garths' pianist friend Victor Sondini), and Don Beddoe (as Captain McGraw, the lawman who will investigate a series of stranglings). But make no mistake: Karloff is the main reason to watch. He's touching, and compelling, and appropriately creepy when he needs to be.
Not a particularly memorable film, but a solidly entertaining one.
Seven out of 10.