The Corpse Vanishes
Brief Synopsis
A mad scientist kills brides and uses their glands to keep his wife alive.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Wallace Fox
Director
Bela Lugosi
Dr. Lorenz
Luana Walters
Patricia Hunter
Tris Coffin
Dr. Foster
Elizabeth Russell
Countess Lorenz
Minerva Urecal
Fagah
Film Details
Genre
Horror/Science-Fiction
Horror
Release Date
May
8,
1942
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Banner Productions
Distribution Company
Monogram Pictures Corp.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 4m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,699ft
Synopsis
New York society reporter Patricia Hunter witnesses the apparent deaths of several brides who mysteriously collapse at the altar and whose bodies are then kidnapped from the coroner's hearse. After a seventh death, Pat's partner, photographer Sandy, realizes that each bride wore an unusual orchid from an unknown donor. Pat learns that the flower is a hybrid created by Dr. Lorenz, who lives in upstate New York. Unknown to Pat, Lorenz has kidnapped all the brides and used their bodily fluids to create a serum that, when injected into her neck, has kept his elderly wife looking youthful. Pat gets permission from her editor Keenan to investigate the story, but when she arrives in Lorenz's town, the only taxi driver refuses to take her to his home, so she jumps on the back of the Lorenz truck. The driver stops and throws her off and she is forced to hitch a ride with Dr. Foster, who works with Lorenz. Lorenz's wife, the Countess, does not welcome Pat's intrusion, but Lorenz promises to give Pat an interview the next morning, although he claims he no longer propagates orchids, and offers Pat and Foster board for the night, as a storm rages outside. That night Pat's sleep is interrupted when Lorenz's servant, a hunchback named Angel, sneaks into her room to stroke her hair as she sleeps. After she awakens she seeks out Foster, but they cannot find a trace of Angel. Pat becomes more worried when she sees that Lorenz and his wife sleep in coffins. After Foster retires, Pat finds a secret passage from her room and follows it to a crypt where Angel now strokes the hair of one of the missing brides. Pat faints when Lorenz appears and strangles Angel. She awakens the next morning in her room and again consults with Foster, who does not recall having been awakened by her during the night. Pat finds an orchid by her bedside and decides to leave rather than interview Lorenz. At the train station, she confides her suspicions about Lorenz to Foster and returns to the city. Keenan is skeptical about her story until Foster arrives and tells her that he decided to investigate further and at the station found a shipment ordered by Lorenz, of moss, used only to grow orchids. Foster is convinced that Lorenz is capable of anything and now believes that the brides are being kept in a cataleptic state. In order to entrap Lorenz, Pat arranges for her actress friend, Peggy Woods, to pose as a bride, and news of the wedding is published. When an orchid is delivered, they know that Lorenz is present, and proceed with the wedding. Lorenz kidnaps Pat, and during their escape, his midget servant Toby is shot. At his laboratory, Lorenz prepares to sacrifice Pat for his wife's youth, but his servant Fagah, mother of both Angel and Toby, stabs him for forsaking her children. Lorenz has enough strength to kill Fagah and then collapses. The police arrive before the Countess can attack Pat, and Foster comes to her aid. Keenan promotes Pat but she foregoes the promotion to become Foster's wife.
Director
Wallace Fox
Director
Cast
Bela Lugosi
Dr. Lorenz
Luana Walters
Patricia Hunter
Tris Coffin
Dr. Foster
Elizabeth Russell
Countess Lorenz
Minerva Urecal
Fagah
Angelo Rossitto
Toby
Joan Barclay
Alice Wentworth
Kenneth Harlan
Keenan
Gwen Kenyon
Peggy [Woods]
Vince Barnett
Sandy
Frank Moran
Angel
George Eldridge
Mike
Gladys Faye
Phyllis
Carol Crane
Crew
Jack Dietz
Producer
Harvey Gates
Screenwriter
Glen Glenn
Sound Engineer
Robert Golden
Film Editor
Arthur Hammond
Assistant Director
Sam Katzman
Producer
[johnny] Lange
Music Director
David Milton
Art Director
[lew] Porter
Music Director
Art Reed
Photography
Sam Robins
Original Story
Ed. W. Rote
Production Manager
Barney A. Sarecky
Associate Producer
Gerald Schnitzer
Original Story
Gerald Schnitzer
Assistant Director
Film Details
Genre
Horror/Science-Fiction
Horror
Release Date
May
8,
1942
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Banner Productions
Distribution Company
Monogram Pictures Corp.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 4m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,699ft
Articles
The Corpse Vanishes
A mad scientist kills brides and uses their glands to keep his wife alive.
The Corpse Vanishes
A mad scientist kills brides and uses their glands to keep his wife alive.
Quotes
Oh, professor, do you also make a habit of collecting coffins?- Patricia Hunter
Why, yes, in a manner of speaking. I find a coffin much more comfortable than a bed.- Dr. Lorenz
Trivia
Notes
Actor Angelo Rossitto is listed simply as "Angelo" in the onscreen credits, and songwriters Johnny Lange and Lew Porter are credited as "Lange & Porter."
