Overview
Down-on-his-luck John Ellman is framed for a judge's murder. After he's convicted and sentenced to death, witnesses come forth and prove his innocence. But it was too late for a stay to be granted and Ellman is executed. A doctor uses an experimental procedure to restore him to life, though the full outcome is other than expected.
MovieMagicScore Overview
Auto-generatedMichael Curtiz directs this 1936 blend of crime, horror, and early science fiction. The story centers on a hard-luck man framed for murder, wrongly executed, and then restored to life through an experimental medical procedure that yields unsettling consequences. Moody and atmospheric, it pairs a tragic wrongful-conviction drama with the eerie territory of reanimation, leaning on shadow and mood rather than graphic shock. Themes of injustice, mortality, and the costs of meddling with life give it a somber undercurrent. It will appeal to fans of vintage studio horror and noirish morality tales. The film holds a MagicMovieScore of 6.2.
An automated summary to help you decide what to watch — not a user review or critic rating.
Trailer
Top Cast
Boris Karloff
John Ellman
Ricardo Cortez
Nolan
Edmund Gwenn
Dr. Evan Beaumont
Marguerite Churchill
Nancy
Warren Hull
Jimmy
Barton MacLane
Loder
Henry O'Neill
District Attorney Werner
Joe King
Judge Roger Shaw
Only 92 ratings so far. The current score has wide uncertainty. Treat it as a preliminary signal.
Why we're confident →Movie Info
Release Date
March 1, 1936
Runtime
1h 6m
Rating
NR
Genres
Crime, Horror, Science Fiction
Director