Hell hath no fury like Dr. Saavard! Boris Karloff stars as Dr. Saavard, a scientist condemned to hang for killing a volunteering subject whose artificial heart transplant procedure is interrupted by police. He and assistant Lang(Byron Foulger)had induced death by using gas to stop the test subject's heart when the dead man's fiancé,and Saavard's nurse Betty Crawford(Ann Doran), afraid for her boyfriend's well-being, goes to the police hoping to save him before he is put out. The police and doctor on call would not allow Saavard one hour to save his guinea pig's life and is put on trial for murder. When the jury sentences Saavard to hang, he has one last chance to tell those who ultimately had his life in their hands that they would pay for killing such a scientist who could do good for humanity instead of bad. Once he is dead, assistant Lang resurrects Saavard with the artificial heart..Saavard, full of rage and anger towards those blind with disbelief in the human advancement of science in saving others through medical achievements too narrow-minded to see the future, will see that six of those jury members who were adamant in his execution would die the way he did. Then he tricks the judge, attorneys, coroner, & Betty into meeting at his house, locking them into a living room with booby traps killing them at an appointed time while he torments them across an intercom. Booby traps include an electrical grid that holds them in the room, a poison-needled phone receiver, and plans to shoot Betty with a rifle when he cuts out the lights. The only escape for the group is Saavard's daughter, Janet(Lornay Gray) who arrives to find what her father has done..she had not know that her father was actually alive and will push for the madness to stop.
Moves at such a fast pace, I wished it would continue. The premise is really spectacular considering Karloff could lock away those he deemed a threat to medical progress. I think his Dr. Savaard was more enraged about that than his being executed. In a sense, he wasn't on trial(in his mind anyway)as much as his desire to see the advancement of life for future generations..yet, here are these cynics who believe this isn't feasible and condemn him to death, eliminating a bright mind that could possibly advance human life. I think what was thrilling to me was how Savaard not only proves them wrong using his mere presence as the example, but his having them cornered like rats with no escape. Karloff has two scenes with dialogue he delivers so soundly and painfully, I shuttered. It's so convincing, his argument regarding what they were doing..and did..to him. Great little B-movie that deserves to be seen by Karloff enthusiasts. Yet, in honesty, he was quite mad and any argument he could've made regarding his miracle of science was lost when he decided to seek retribution. I think the final scene was perfect..if they wanted him gone, there was no way in hell the community would benefit from his genius.
Moves at such a fast pace, I wished it would continue. The premise is really spectacular considering Karloff could lock away those he deemed a threat to medical progress. I think his Dr. Savaard was more enraged about that than his being executed. In a sense, he wasn't on trial(in his mind anyway)as much as his desire to see the advancement of life for future generations..yet, here are these cynics who believe this isn't feasible and condemn him to death, eliminating a bright mind that could possibly advance human life. I think what was thrilling to me was how Savaard not only proves them wrong using his mere presence as the example, but his having them cornered like rats with no escape. Karloff has two scenes with dialogue he delivers so soundly and painfully, I shuttered. It's so convincing, his argument regarding what they were doing..and did..to him. Great little B-movie that deserves to be seen by Karloff enthusiasts. Yet, in honesty, he was quite mad and any argument he could've made regarding his miracle of science was lost when he decided to seek retribution. I think the final scene was perfect..if they wanted him gone, there was no way in hell the community would benefit from his genius.