Don't know if its the title or the bizarro plot, but THE FACE OF MARBLE has developed a cult following thru the years. It's genuinely a one of a kind horror film.
Monogram Pictures wisely cast John Carradine in the lead, fresh from playing Count Dracula at Universal, now a mad doctor attempting to bring the dead back to life, including his wife. The studio writers had the knack for assembling some strange stories, and they truly hit the bullseye. The dead are subsequently turned into marble --yes marble! -- including a menacing Great Dane that walks through walls? Add an ominous housekeeper who practices voodoo at night. There is just something about this flick that makes it campy fun right to the end.
Robert Shayne, playing the good guy caught up in all the experimenting, noted in later years that the set was always dark, either for mood reasons or a tight budget, and Carradine spent his off camera time receiting Shakespeare! In fact, Carradine was known to have been seen walking the streets of Hollywood for years receiting Shakspeare, whether it was a hobby or whatever, perhaps just to get out of the house.
By the way, the gigantic Great Dane (Brutus) was also featured in some of the BOWERY BOYS movies, and had the same name as Carradine's dog in THE INVISIBLE MAN'S REVENGE (1944). Good trivia question.
Best directed by William Beaudine, who obviously had fun with this story, also directing the BOWERY BOYS series for Monogram. Good cast of popular B film actors, such as Claudia Drake, who had recently appeared in the cult film DETOUR, Thomas E. Jackson, once again as the detective, and comedian Willie Best.
True, a minor addiction to many of us cult film followers, and thankfully, finally restored and on dvd. Don't miss this.
Monogram Pictures wisely cast John Carradine in the lead, fresh from playing Count Dracula at Universal, now a mad doctor attempting to bring the dead back to life, including his wife. The studio writers had the knack for assembling some strange stories, and they truly hit the bullseye. The dead are subsequently turned into marble --yes marble! -- including a menacing Great Dane that walks through walls? Add an ominous housekeeper who practices voodoo at night. There is just something about this flick that makes it campy fun right to the end.
Robert Shayne, playing the good guy caught up in all the experimenting, noted in later years that the set was always dark, either for mood reasons or a tight budget, and Carradine spent his off camera time receiting Shakespeare! In fact, Carradine was known to have been seen walking the streets of Hollywood for years receiting Shakspeare, whether it was a hobby or whatever, perhaps just to get out of the house.
By the way, the gigantic Great Dane (Brutus) was also featured in some of the BOWERY BOYS movies, and had the same name as Carradine's dog in THE INVISIBLE MAN'S REVENGE (1944). Good trivia question.
Best directed by William Beaudine, who obviously had fun with this story, also directing the BOWERY BOYS series for Monogram. Good cast of popular B film actors, such as Claudia Drake, who had recently appeared in the cult film DETOUR, Thomas E. Jackson, once again as the detective, and comedian Willie Best.
True, a minor addiction to many of us cult film followers, and thankfully, finally restored and on dvd. Don't miss this.