Bedlam (1946, Mark Robson)

Bedlam is an elegant chiller that works both as a black comedy of manners and as a spooky Gothic tale. Boris Karloff plays the sadistic head of a mental institution in 18th century London. He meets a formidable adversary in the form of libertine turned-social-crusader Anne Lee (What ever Happened to Baby Jane?). Social commentary is added to the mixture and the result is a film that combines effectively the stately feel of a period piece with the ethereal structure one expects from the ominous Val Lewton formula. Once again, Lewton’s factory creates a horror movie that deliberately emphasizes the collision of two opposite halves.

Thematically, the world of high society is pitted against the world of the disfranchised. Stylistically, the sunny and lively daylight scenes of the rich and powerful clash beautifully with the moody, darkly private universe of the insane asylum. Black humor is often used to connect the two dissimilar approaches. Karloff is grand in a deliciously depraved performance (his lisp has never sounded better) and Lee is a fine heroine with a very modern sense of justice. The finale is truly iniquitous (and a lot of fun). This is Lewton’s last horror film for RKO and he finished the cycle on a high note.

~ by gelpi2008 on Friday, October 10, 2008.