User Reviews

I have to say I am quite a fan of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" and I also like some of the silent short films that had him as a subject. This Austrian, black-and-white, 13-minute movie from almost 65 years ago, however, did not manage to impress me. The actor was good physically for the part, but I wish they could have chosen a better narrator. First of all, it seems off if the central actor suddenly starts narrating the story and we see his mouth move. He is not supposed to be a knowing component. He is supposed to be in fear. Rudolf was actually a pretty prolific actor, but still at an early stage of his career here. His voice also lacked to me the horror component. He may be a good dramatic narrator, but "The Raven" profits a lot from the horror attached to it and that was non-existent in Rudolf's voice. The actress in here never appeared in another film again, her only credit. Same goes for the writer. Director Kurt Steinwendner worked on a couple more projects, but this was his first. In general, a bit more experience in all areas would not have hurt this film. That way, I may also ended up liking it more. Not recommended, even if it's not a complete failure.