The Raven (1935)
The American horror film, The Raven (1935), directed by Lew Landers and starring Boris Karloff and Béla Lugosi, tells the story of a young dancer named Jean Thatcher who is injured in a car accident. Her father, Judge Thatcher, and fiancé, Dr. Jerry Halden, seek out neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Vollin for assistance. Despite now only conducting research, Vollin is renowned for his skill in performing delicate operations on cranial nerve roots. Initially uninterested in helping due to his insensitivity towards human suffering, Vollin changes his mind when Judge Thatcher appeals to his ego by claiming only he can successfully perform the operation according to former colleagues at the hospital.
One month after the surgery is completed and Jean has fully recovered, Vollin becomes obsessed with her. Jean feels indebted to Vollin for saving her life and also grateful for him employing Jerry as his assistant. However, during one of her checkups in his living room, Vollin reveals to Jean that he hired Jerry ‘to give him something to take the place of what he is losing’. Uncomfortable with his advances, she manages to escape from his embrace by quickly giving an excuse for why she must leave. Jean surprises Vollin, a known admirer of Edgar Allan Poe, with a solo dance performance accompanied by a recitation of ‘The Raven’. Judge Thatcher suspects that Jean may be developing feelings for Vollin and advises the doctor to proceed with caution. However, it becomes apparent that Vollin is already in love with Jean.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Boris KarloffEdmond Bateman  Bela LugosiDr. Richard Vollin  Lester MatthewsDr. Jerry Holden  Irene WareJean Thatcher  Samuel S. HindsJudge Thatcher  Inez CourtneyMary Burns |
The American horror film, The Raven (1935), directed by Lew Landers and starring Boris Karloff and Béla Lugosi, tells the story of a young dancer named Jean Thatcher who is injured in a car accident. Her father, Judge Thatcher, and fiancé, Dr. Jerry Halden, seek out neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Vollin for assistance. Despite now only conducting research, Vollin is renowned for his skill in performing delicate operations on cranial nerve roots. Initially uninterested in helping due to his insensitivity towards human suffering, Vollin changes his mind when Judge Thatcher appeals to his ego by claiming only he can successfully perform the operation according to former colleagues at the hospital.
One month after the surgery is completed and Jean has fully recovered, Vollin becomes obsessed with her. Jean feels indebted to Vollin for saving her life and also grateful for him employing Jerry as his assistant. However, during one of her checkups in his living room, Vollin reveals to Jean that he hired Jerry ‘to give him something to take the place of what he is losing’. Uncomfortable with his advances, she manages to escape from his embrace by quickly giving an excuse for why she must leave. Jean surprises Vollin, a known admirer of Edgar Allan Poe, with a solo dance performance accompanied by a recitation of ‘The Raven’. Judge Thatcher suspects that Jean may be developing feelings for Vollin and advises the doctor to proceed with caution. However, it becomes apparent that Vollin is already in love with Jean.
