THE DARK EYES OF LONDON (THE DEAD EYES OF LONDON/THE HUMAN MONSTER)

UK, 1940, 76 minutes, Black and white.
Bela Lugosi, Hugh Williams, Greta Gynt, Edmon Ryan.
Directed by Walter Summers.

The Dark Eyes of London is based on a story by Edgar Wallace. It is a star vehicle for Bela Lugosi, made in England, and giving him a more rounded character than was often the case in his American films, which all capitalised on his screen presence as Dracula. The film has a strong British cast led by Hugh Williams, a star of the 40s, as well as Greta Gynt who also flourished in British films in the 1940s.

The film is a murder mystery, a focus on bodies being found in the Thames, leading to investigations about insurance fraud. The investigation leads to a Doctor Orloff, played by Bela Lugosi, who has a flourishing London practice. The connection with donations and the laundering of the money gained from the fraud is directed towards an institution for homeless men, run by Professor Deerborn – and it doesn’t take too long, given Lugosi’s appearance and height, to realise that Doctor Orloff is Professor Deerborn (though with a much more English accent as the professor). Hugh Williams is the detective, Greta Gynt is the daughter of one of the victims. Edmon Ryan portrays an American visiting detective, giving the international tone to the film as well as some pokes at Americans in England.

The film is B-budget material, but more interesting than many of Bela Lugosi’s American films.

1. The Edgar Wallace story? Edgar Wallace as storyteller? Adaptation for the screen?

2. London locations, black and white photography? Atmosphere of the city, contemporary? The river? The musical score?

3. The title, Edgar Wallace’s title? The alternate titles?

4. Doctor Orloff, Lugosi’s presence, his appearance, sinister, his voice and accent? His work as a doctor? His office, his assistant? His encounters with the men, the examinations? The persuasion about insurance? The dependence of the men, wanting money for their families? Their disappearances?

5. Professor Deerborn, the institute, seedy? The men? Their work, counting the money? Their dependence on the professor? Jake as the equivalent of Igor in the Dracula films? His appearance, mental capacity? His doing Orloff’s will? The murders? His friendship with the man in the coma? His killings, his being turned against Doctor Orloff by Diana? His confrontation with the doctor, killing him?

6. Inspector Holt, the work of the British police, the investigations in detail? His personality? The encounters with Diana, helping her, the rescue?

7. Lieutenant O’ Reilly, the American, settling into London, observing the British police? His personality?

8. Diana, her encounter with Holt and O’ Reilly? Her concern about her father? Her being asked to go to work for Professor Deerborn? Her work, suspicions, the discovery of the truth? Jake and his menace? Her being able to persuade him to turn against Doctor Orloff? The final happy ending?

9. Jake, the monster, doing the doctor’s will? His friendship, humanity, his anger and the death of the doctor?

10. The range of victims, the down-and-out men, incapacitated? The doctor drowning them?

11. The popular ingredients of a director story combined with elements from horror movies?