utgard14 Entertaining horror comedy starring the great Boris Karloff as a scientist who has to sell his colonial house. It's turned into a hotel but the scientist is allowed to keep his laboratory in the basement, where he tries to create super-powered men for the war effort. It's a movie that has quite a bit in common with the superior Arsenic and Old Lace, which Karloff had starred in on stage (but not in the film version). Co-starring with Karloff is Peter Lorre, who would go on to star in the Arsenic film. I would watch these two legends read the phone book (is that an outdated phrase now?). They're both a lot of fun here and easily the main reason to recommend this picture to anyone. The rest of the cast is good, especially Maxie Rosenbloom, but Karloff and Lorre are the highlights. Anyway, it's not a classic in the same way that Frank Capra's Arsenic and Old Lace is but it is lots of fun, particularly for fans of Karloff and Lorre.

Rainey Dawn Peter Lorre (Dr. Arthur Lorencz) and Boris Karloff (Prof. Nathaniel Billingsare) quite the comical duo in this cute little comedy-horror. The movie is wroth for these two stars alone.Prof. Billingsare (Karloff) wants to create a superman but finds himself murdering his subjects - well, errr, they are "martyrs". Dr. Lorencz (Lorre) is a jack-of-all-trades: a doctor, sheriff, notary, undertaker with a Siamese cat detective. They end up working together to create a "superman" but end up leaving the viewer laughing out loud with tears in the eyes. Quite funny.I liked the rest of the cast - they played an important role in the film and were quite funny as well. I enjoyed their performances. I LOVED the ending... it's quite crazy and well worth watching the movie to see this hilarious ending.This is a great afternoon film - one that will brighten your day.8/10

imb-14 I don't know how I missed this one all these years. The only reason I saw it was that I bought the Boris Karloff DVD collection with The Black Room on it. I found it charming and very funny.Peter Lorre is a hoot. There are a couple of scenes in which he does some very unexpected things. Maude Ebourne is the best though. A great character actress, she probably had her best role in Ruggles of Red Gap. The scene in which she sleepwalks is hysterical. The Nazi terrorist who turns out to be a mental patient is also interesting.One commentator compared it to a precursor to Green Acres and I agree. The humor is nearly as offbeat and absurd as that great show.

bre_anna A young divorced woman buys a historical tavern owned by a nutty professor (Boris Karloff). The professor remains in the tavern along with his equally nutty old household staff. The professor continues to conduct his experiments upon hapless travelling salesmen. The point of which is to turn these men into "supermen" who will be able to vanquish the enemy (the story is set during WWII). Peter Lorre finds out what is going on, and tells the prof "And to think, I accused you of conducting hair brained experiments!" (paraphrase)Other lines are equally as understatedly funny: Lorre who plays a mayor/doctor/scientist/marriage celebrant/sheriff/loan shark etc etc etc is asked "Doesn't anyone else do anything around here?" "Oh" replies Lorre, "they just vote once a year". This really is a funny movie. All that's missing is Vincent Price and a handsome Hungarian in a vampire cape. That said, it's distinctive wackiness means it's for people who like that sort of thing. I found plenty to laugh and lots to enjoy, I'd recommend this anyone. Peter Lorre is especially good.