The Corpse Vanishes (1942)

30% of users liked it
(989 ratings)

Despite the typical Monogram drawbacks -- murky photography, stolid staging, ramshackle sets -- The Corpse Vanishes remains one of the more deliciously outrageous horror exercises of the 1940s. Bela Lugosi, as hammy as ever, stars as Dr. Lorenz, a European horticulturist whose octogenarian wife… More Despite the typical Monogram drawbacks -- murky photography, stolid staging, ramshackle sets -- The Corpse Vanishes remains one of the more deliciously outrageous horror exercises of the 1940s. Bela Lugosi, as hammy as ever, stars as Dr. Lorenz, a European horticulturist whose octogenarian wife (Elizabeth Russell) needs fluids from the glands of young virgins to remain forever young and beautiful. Jumping to conclusions, the insane medico's rationale seems to be that the best place to find a virgin is at the altar. Consequently, seven young women are in short order poisoned by a mysterious orchid just before their "I do's" and brought in a catatonic state to Dr. Lorenz' mansion in Brookdale. Cub reporter Pat Hunter (Luana Walters) is on to the scheme and visits the Lorenz estate under the pretense of researching an article on orchids. With a typical sound-stage storm brewing up, she agrees to spend the night, and what a night it proves to be. Not only is poor Pat awakened by a visit from Dr. Lorenz' slobbering, hunchbacked helper, Angel (Frank Moran, who stalks her while eating a drumstick), the reporter is also slapped in the face by the disagreeable countess, snubbed by a nasty dwarf (Angelo Rossitto), and nearly suffers the same fate as the poor brides when rescued in the nick of time by an enraged housekeeper (Minerva Urecal) and her boyfriend, Dr. Foster (Tristram Coffin). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 4 min.
Directed By: Wallace Fox
Genres: Classics, Horror

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1942 Wide
On DVD: May 24, 2005
Studio: Independent International Pictures Corp.

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A creaky Povery Row mad scientist film from yesteryear that stars a past his prime Bela Lugosi.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

I really liked this movie when I first saw it, it was different and amazing, but then I saw other movies similar to it, and then I saw the mst3k version of it. Eventually I saw how funny it was as well as how cool I thought it was the first time. It seems like whenever I see it I… More
I really liked this movie when I first saw it, it was different and amazing, but then I saw other movies similar to it, and then I saw the mst3k version of it. Eventually I saw how funny it was as well as how cool I thought it was the first time. It seems like whenever I see it I have a new opinion on it. Anyway, I love Lugosi, and I recommend checking out this movie if you're a fan too.
Cindy I

One of the cheapo horror films Bela Lugosi made for Monogram on his slide from a promising actor to the drug-addicted mess he became. This is not as bad as I had imagined, and Lugosi was good enough, but it's sad to see this and know how much better he could be with better… More
One of the cheapo horror films Bela Lugosi made for Monogram on his slide from a promising actor to the drug-addicted mess he became. This is not as bad as I had imagined, and Lugosi was good enough, but it's sad to see this and know how much better he could be with better material, such as that he got in the 30s with Dracula, White Zombie and Island of Lost Souls. A true waste.
Morgan S

in my 50 box set... U CAN NOT GO WRONG WITH BELA LUGOSI!! **HE GIVE 1000% in EVERY Movie!!