Principal cast
Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Julie Bishop and Egon Brecher
Film 478 of 498 on the Screen Path
The Black Cat
Things you never said before nor even dreamed of!
About the film
The Black Cat at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1934 film at stop 478 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
After a road accident in Hungary, the American honeymooners Joan and Peter and the enigmatic Dr. Werdegast find refuge in the house of the famed architect Hjalmar Poelzig, who shares a dark past with the doctor.
Key craft credits
John J. Mescall (director of photography), Ray Curtiss (editor), Peter Ruric (screenplay), Tom Kilpatrick (screenplay) and Charles D. Hall (art direction)
- Director
- Edgar G. Ulmer
- Release
- 1934-05-07
- Runtime
- 65 minutes
- Genres
- Horror and Thriller
- Country
- United States
- Quiz
- 15 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 15 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
15 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Boris KarloffCharacter: Hjalmar Poelzig
- Bela LugosiCharacter: Dr. Vitus Werdegast
- David MannersCharacter: Peter Alison
- Julie BishopCharacter: Joan Alison
- Egon BrecherCharacter: The Majordomo
- Harry CordingCharacter: Thamal
- Lucille LundCharacter: Karen
- Henry ArmettaCharacter: The Sergeant
- Albert ContiCharacter: The Lieutenant
- John CarradineCharacter: Cult Organist
- John GeorgeCharacter: Cultist (uncredited)
- Albert PolletCharacter: Waiter (uncredited)
Full crew
Full crew
- Edgar G. UlmerCredits: Story, Director, Costume Design, Set Designer
- Peter RuricCredits: Story, Screenplay
- John J. MescallCredits: Director of Photography
- Edgar Allan PoeCredits: Short Story
- E.M. AsherCredits: Supervising Producer
- Ray CurtissCredits: Editor
- Jack PierceCredits: Makeup Artist
- Carl Laemmle Jr.Credits: Producer
- Heinz RoemheldCredits: Music
- Charles D. HallCredits: Art Direction
- Gilbert KurlandCredits: Sound
- William J. ReiterCredits: Assistant Director
- Sam WeisenthalCredits: Assistant Director
- Tom KilpatrickCredits: Screenplay
- M.F. MurphyCredits: Production Manager
- Roman FreulichCredits: Still Photographer
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.