Classic Horror Melds With Psychological Thrills

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MOVIE REVIEW
Bluebeard (80th Anniversary Edition)
Approved –

Genre: Crime, Horror, Thriller
Year Released: 1944, 2024 Kino Lorber Blu-ray
Runtime: 1h 12m
Director(s): Edgar G. Ulmer
Writer(s): Arnold Lipp, Werner H. Furst, Pierre Gendron
Cast: John Carradine, Jean Parker, Nils Asther, Ludwig Stössel, Teala Loring, Sonia Sorel, George Pembroke, Iris Adrian
Where To Watch: available now here www.kinolorber.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: As the night falls over 19th-century Paris, this atmospheric backdrop sets the stage for BLUEBEARD, a film that explores deep into the shadowy psyche of a disturbed artist. Director Edgar G. Ulmer spins a gripping tale of obsession and terror, using the city's fog-draped, gas-lit streets as a canvas for this gothic narrative. John Carradine's portrayal of Gaston Morel, a puppeteer with a sinister secret, anchors the film, delivering a riveting and unsettling performance.

Produced on the fringes of Hollywood by the Producers' Releasing Corporation, BLUEBEARD escapes the typical and over-the-top cinematic glitz, thriving instead on a constrained budget that fuels creativity. Ulmer's direction showcases his knack for eerie storytelling—his Paris is a city of shadows, where even the light whispers secrets. Particularly striking are the scenes where silhouettes transform into spectral entities, mirroring the dark undertones of the narrative.

Lucille, portrayed with grace by Jean Parker, stumbles into this shadowy world during a seemingly innocent encounter with Morel. Known to the locals simply as "The Puppeteer," Morel's charming facade masks a grave threat. As Lucille is drawn deeper into his world, the peril escalates, enveloping her in a web of danger she barely understands.

Carradine excels as Morel, and his performance is a chilling exploration of a man whose artistic passion morphs into a deadly obsession. His ability to lift up his characters, only to unveil their malevolent intentions later, propels the story into dark corners. The tension is further amplified by Renee, Morel's assistant, whose growing suspicions about the fate of others add a layer of impending doom to the unfolding drama.

Ulmer's directorial signature is on full display as he stretches the film's modest budget to its limits. His Paris is grand and intimate, crafted through clever uses of fog and strategic lighting that enhance this ambiance. The plot thickens with the discovery of another victim, leading to an intense police chase by Inspector Lefevre, portrayed by Nils Asther. Lefevre's pursuit uncovers the layers of Morel's dark world, each clue leading him closer to the horrifying truth captured in Morel's grim portraits.

The film builds to a climactic confrontation that lays bare Morel's bottomless madness and the chilling depth of his depravity. In these moments, BLUEBEARD transcends its limitations, becoming a profound meditation on the thin line between artistic genius and insanity. Carradine's haunting depiction of Morel is noteworthy, ensuring his place in classic horror and noir annals. Even with pacing issues and some of the more exposed aspects of its pieced-together production, the film still manages to pull you in.

BLUEBEARD is a stroll through the gloomy avenues of Paris; it is an intricate dance of light and shadow, where each frame is a brushstroke in Ulmer’s depiction of a tortured soul. While crafted under a limited budget, this film offers a rich narrative experience that delves into the complexities of the human psyche.

Product Extras:
2020 HD Master by Paramount Pictures – From a 4K Scan
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Gregory W. Mank and Tom Weaver
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle
Optional English Subtitles

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER, PARAMOUNT PICTURES]

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