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Also known as The House of Doom and The Vanishing Body, The Black Cat was Universal’s first star pairing of Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. Like the studio’s other Poe-inspired films, The Black Cat had little in connection with Edgar Allan Poe beyond the title. The story featured Lugosi as Dr. Vitus Werdegast, a psychiatrist who spent fifteen years as a prisoner of war in an infamous Russian prison. In his absence, his old friend, architect Hjalmar Poelzig (Karloff), stole his wife and then married his daughter after her death. A battle of wits culminates in Werdegast skinning Poelzig alive. Mr. Jiggs, the black cat featured in the film was the winner of a competition judged by Lugosi and Karloff. The event was featured in a Universal newsreel. Mr. Jiggs also featured in Universal’s Gift of Gab with Lugosi and Karloff in cameo roles. The Black Cat was Universal’s biggest box office hit of 1934. Lugosi appeared in an inferior unrelated film of the same name in 1941.
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Production Company: Universal Studios
Producer: Carl Laemmle, Jr.
Supervising Producer: E.M. Asher
Director: Edgar G. Ulmer
Assistant Directors: W.J. Reiter and Sam Weisenthal
Screenplay: Peter Ruric
Contributing Writer: Tom Kilpatrick
Original Story: Edgar G. Ulmar and Peter Ruric suggested by The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe
Cinematography: John J. Mescall
Second Cameraman: King D. Grey
Assistant Cameraman: John J. Martin
Art Director: Charles D. Hall
Musical Director: Heinz Roemheld
Music Recordist: Larry Aicholtz
Music Supervisor: Gilbert Kurland
Conductor/Music Adaptor:
Composer: stock music
Orchestrator: Walter Schiller
Make-up: Jack P. Pierce
Special Effects: John P. Fulton
Matte Artists: Jack Cosgrove, Russell Lawson
Camera Effects: David S. Horsley
Still Photographer: Roman Frulich
Costumes: Ed Ware and Vera West
Editor: Ray Curtiss
Script Clerk: Moree Herring
Dialogue Director: Peter Ruric
Supervisor’s Secretary: Peggy Vaughn
Production manager: M.F. Murphy
Sound Supervisor: Gilbert Kurland
Running Time: 65 minutes
Copyright Number: LP4664, May 4 1934
Cast:
Boris Karloff: Hjalmar Poelig
Bela Lugosi: Dr. Vitus Werdegast
David Manners: Peter Allison
Jacqueline Wells: Joan Allison
Lucille Lund: Karen
Egon Brecher: Majordomo
Harry Cording: Thamal
Henry Armetta: The sergeant
Albert Conti: The lieutenant
Anna Duncan: Maid
Herman Bing: Car Steward
Andre Cheron: Train conductor
Luis Alberni: Train Steward
George Davis: Bus Driver
Alphonse Martell: Porter
Tony Marlow: Patrolman
Paul Weigel: Stationmaster
Albert Polet: Waiter
Rodney Hilderbrand: Brakeman
Mr. Jiggs: Black cat
Satanists: Virginia Ainsworth, King Baggot, Symona Boniface, Lois January, Michael Mark, Paul Panzer, John Caradine, Peggy Terry
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The Hollywood Reporter, January 19, 1934
‘U’ Seeks Lugosi
Bela Lugosi is being sought by Universal for a role in “The Black Cat,” to be directed by Edgar Ulmar, with Boris Karloff starred
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The Hollywood Reporter, February 13, 1934
Lugosi Returns for ‘U’s’ ‘Black Cat’
Bela Lugosi yesterday decided to give up his personal appearances in the east and accept Universal’s offer for a featured spot in “The Black Cat,” which Edgar Ulmer directs with Boris Karloff in the lead. Peter Ruric is scripting the Edgar Allan Poe story. Lugosi arrives out here February 21. Al Kingston set the deal.
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The Hollywood Reporter, February 17, 1934
‘U’ Tests Erin Moore
Erin O’brien-Moore was tested by Universal for one of the leading roles in “Black Cat,” the Edgar Allan Poe story, which will feature Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi for Universal. Edgar Ulmer will direct.
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Universal Weekly, February 17, 1934
The following images are courtesy of Sander Feinberg
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The Hollywood Reporter, February 20, 1934
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The Hollywood Reporter, February 23, 1934
The Independent, March 9, 1934
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Chicago Tribune, March 25, 1934
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Universal Weekly, March 31, 1934
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Universal Weekly, April 7. 1934
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Universal Weekly, April 21 1934
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Universal Weekly, April 28, 1934
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Eugene Register-Guard, May 8, 1934
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Eugene Register-Guard, May 9, 1934
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Eugene Register-Guard, May 11, 1934
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Eugene Register-Guard, May 12, 1934
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The Milwaukee Journal, May 14, 1934
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San Jose News, May 16, 1934
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San Jose News, May 17, 1934
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San Jose News, May 18, 1934
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The New York Times, May 19, 1934
Not Related to Poe
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Prescott Evening Courier, May 29, 1934
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Prescott Evening Courier, May 30, 1934
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The Miami News, May 30, 1934
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The Miami News, May 31, 1934
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Prescott Evening Courier, May 31, 1934
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The Providence Journal, May 31, 1934
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The Miami News, June 1, 1934
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The Miami News, June 2, 1934
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The Owosso Argus-Press, June 9, 1934
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The Owosso Argus-Press, June 11, 1934
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Spokane, Daily Chronicle, June 16, 1934
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The Montreal Daily Star, June 22, 1934
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Filmografico (Mexico), June, 1934
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Lawrence Journal-World, July 13, 1934
Unknown newspaper, July 13, 1934
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The Sydney Morning Herald, August 1, 1934
Unknown newspaper
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The Times, September 3, 1935
The Virgin Islands Daily News, September 1, 1934
Ludington, Daily News, September 11, 1934
The Sunday Spartanburg Herald-Journal, September 23, 1934
Unknown Newspaper
Unknown Newspaper
(Courtesy of http://www.facebook.compagesVintage-Cinema)
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Trade Show advertisement for the re-titled UK release
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The Spokesman-Review, September 2, 1948
Posters
One Sheet
Half Sheet
Window Card
Swedish One Sheet
1953 Re-Release One Sheet
1953 Re-Release Half Sheet
1953 Re-Release Insert
Pressbook
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Lobby Cards
Stills
1953 Re-Release Front of Hose Cards
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Heralds
American Herald
Spanish Heralds
Stills
Bela Lugosi
‘How these two, Karloff and Bela Lugosi, love each other. And now they are featured together in Universal’s “The Black Cat.”‘
Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff
Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff (Courtesy of Paul Seiler)
Jacqueline Wells, David Manners and Bela Lugosi
(Courtesy of Paul Seiler)
Boris Karloff
Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff (Courtesy of Paul Seiler)
Bela Lugosi, Lucille Lund and Boris Karloff
(Courtesy of Paul Seiler)
Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi (Courtesy of Paul Seiler)
Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff (Courtesy of Paul Seiler)
Bela Lugosi
Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, David Manners, Henry Armetta and Albert Conti
Bela Lugosi and Jacqueline Wells
Bela Lugosi and Jacqueline Wells
Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Jacqueline Wells and Harry Cording
Jack Pierce and Boris Karloff (Courtesy of Paul Seiler)