Friday, December 13, 2013

CHAMBER OF HORRORS / John Argyle Productions - 1940

It's Edgar Wallace Friday the 13th Theatre with Tabonga, here at The Dungeon!.. We gots another classic tale to tell from the pen of the master of horror, our hero, Mr. Edgar Wallace, who had died 8 years earlier at the very young age of 56. To illustrate his influence in the film industry, he has 212 writing credits with a film currently in production!!.. What a man!!!

Eegah!! sent over a soundclip of the theme with an excellent mad laugh at the end for our earjoyment, sooooo, you can push the big red 'GO' button there next to the bloody laff box in a jar, NOW, Rufus The Gnat! Here's an earfull from the... CHAMBER OF HORRORS!

THE DOOR WITH SEVEN LOCKS was the original title of the story and of this film version.

The story starts with this old rich dude on his death bed, his heirs are there for his final moments. Leslie Banks as Dr. Manetta, the family's doctor, is in the background there.

In one of my favorite scenes, June, played by Lilli Palmer, reads an article to her BFF, Glenda, as she takes a bubble bath. I used to watch the Mexican channel on cable in the early eighties to see the wild Puerto Rican bombshell, Iris Chacon, because she always sang a song while all bubbled up in a tub!

A secret panel in this picture frame opens up and fires a silent poison dart into the victim!

June and Glenda go to Scotland Yard after June's relative is murdered. Here's Inspector Sneed and his helper, Dick Martin, listening to June's story.

Dick joins June to go to Dr. Manetta's to claim her inheritance along with Glenda and the Inspector. They almost drive off the cliff because of the fog.

Dick gets caught in a deadly device in the doctor's horror chamber and is saved at the last second when Manetta pulls a lever.

German born Lilli Palmer looks great in that dress, she's another lady I had a crush on when I was growing up.

The doctor's mute vampire-like servant pulls a gun on Dick, so, Inspector Sneed pulls the rug out from under him!

Dick has to do battle against the evil Dr. Manetta, but, the doc gets caught up in his own death device! We remember Leslie Banks as the hunter of humans, Zaroff, in THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME with Fay Wray from 1932.

Dick saves the doc from the device, but, now everyone knows who the murderer is. Manetta asks for a drink in his special glass that releases poison with a small switch on the side, so, does not have to face execution and any time in prison!!

Here's what the whole thing was about, all seven keys are now on just one chain!

Happy Friday the 13th, Everbloody!!

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