The Man From Beyond, 1922

“A gruesome sight -– this figure stark and stiff within its icy tomb – its features frozen in a snarl of hate” 

An Arctic expedition discovers a grounded ship, and in it a body entombed in ice... sound familiar? But no, it's not some forerunner of The Thing but escapologist extraordinaire Harry Houdini, in his first self-produced picture. Expect death-defying stunts, hair's-breadth escapes and some ideas on transmigration of the spirit borrowed from his friend Arthur Conan Doyle... 

Director: Burton L. King

Cast and Credits:
Harry Houdini (Howard Hillary), Jane Connelly (Felice Norcross / Felice Strange), Arthur Maude (Dr Gilbert Trent), Albert Tavernier (Dr Crawford Strange), Erwin Connelly (Dr Gregory Sinclair), Frank Montgomery (Francois Duval), Nita Naldi (Marie LaGrande), Luis Alberni (Captain of the Barkentine), Yale Benner (Milt Norcross).
Story: Harry Houdini, Scenario: Coolidge Streeter, Cinematography: Louis Dunmyre, Harry A. Fischbeck, L.D. Littlefield, Alexander G. Penrod, Irving B. Ruby and Frank Zucker, Stunts: Bob Rose.
Houdini Pictures Corporation, USA
Running time 67 mins.

The Conquering Power, 1921

“A cradle of greed – each glittering louis alive – smiling back at his maddened senses, while behind the walls – beneath the floors – voices croon the soothing lullaby – GOLD – GOLD – GOLD...”

Latin lothario Rudolph Valentino as Parisian Charles Grandet falls in love with his country cousin Eugenie. Can their forbidden romance survive the wrath of Eugenie's miserly father? Say, aren't we supposed to be talking about horror films here? Stay tuned, all will be revealed... 

Director: Rex Ingram


Cast and Credits:
Rudolph Valentino (Charles Grandet), Alice Terry (Eugenie Grandet), Ralph Lewis (Père Grandet), Carrie Daumery (Mme Grandet), Eric Mayne (Victor Grandet), Bridgetta Clarke (Mme des Grassins), Mark Fenton (M. des Grassins), Ward Wing (Adolphe des Grassins), Edward Connelly (Cruchot, the notary), George Atkinson (Cruchot's son), Willard Lee Hall (the Abbé), Mary Hearn (Nanon), Eugéne Pouyet (Cornoiller), Andrée Tourneur (Annette), Louise Emmons (Washerwoman, uncredited) John George (Villager, uncredited), Rolfe Sedan (Annette's Suitor, uncredited).
Scenario: June Mathis, from the novel Eugénie Grandet by Honore Balzac, Producer: Rex Ingram, Cinematography: John F. Seitz, Technical directors: Ralph Barton and Amos Myers.
Metro Pictures, USA
Running time 89 mins.

The Phantom Carriage (Korkarlen) 1921

"Its driver is no ordinary man, but serves a harsh master called Death"

Although there's never a good time to be beaten and left for dead in a graveyard by your alcoholic 'friends', it's particularly unfortunate if you suffer such a mishap on New Year's Eve. That's when Death's coachman comes a-calling to take you on a one-way trip to the hereafter ...worse still, he's looking to retire and hand the reins over to you... Presenting Victor Sjöström 's acclaimed saga of Death, deliverance and the demon drink...

Director: Victor Sjöström

Cast and Credits:
Victor Sjöström (David Holm), Astrid Holm (Sister Edit), Hilda Borgstrom (Mrs Holm), Tore Svennberg (Georges), Concordia Selander (Edit's Mother), Lisa Lundholm (Sister Maria), Tor Weijden (Gustafsson), Einar Axelsson (David Holm's Brother), Nils Ahrehn (Prison Chaplain), Olof As (Coachman).

Script: Victor Sjöström, Cinematography: Julius Jaenzon, Art Direction: Alexander Bako, Axel Esbensen, Producer: Charles Magnusson, based on the novel 'Korkarlen' by Selma Lagerlof.
(Alternate Titles: The Stroke of Midnight [USA], Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness [UK], The Phantom Chariot)

Sevska-Film, Stockholm
Running time 106 mins.

Destiny (Der Mude Tod) 1921

"For love is strong as death,

Passion is cruel as the grave;

It blazes up like fire,

Fiercer than any flame."

Director: Fritz Lang

Cast and Credits:

Lil Dagover (The Young Woman / Zobeide / Monna Fiametta / Tiao Tsien), Walter Janssen (The Young Man / The Frank / Giovanfrancesco / Liang), Bernhard Goetzke (Death / El Mot / Emperor's Archer), Rudolf Klein-Rogge (The Dervish / Girolamo), with

Germany: Hans Sternberg (The Mayor), Carl Ruckert (The Reverend), Max Adalbert (The Notary), Wilhelm Diegelmann (The Doctor), Erich Pabst (The Teacher), Karl Platen (The Apothecary), Hermann Pischa (The Tailor), Paul Rehkopf (The Grave-Digger), Max Pfeiffer (The Night-Watchman), Georg John (The Beggar), Lydia Potechina (The Landlady), Grete Berger (The Mother)

Persia: Eduard von Winterstein (The Caliph), Erika Unruh (Anesha), Rudolf Klein-Rogge (The Dervish)

Venice: Rudolf Klein-Rogge (Girolamo) Lothar Mutel (Messenger), Edgar Pauly (Friend), Lina Paulsen (Nurse), Lewis Brody (Moor)

China: Karl Huszar (The Emperor), Paul Beinsfeldt (A Hi), Max Adalbert (The Chancellor), Paul Neumann (Executioner).

Screenplay; Fritz Lang and Thea von Harbou, Camera; Erich Nitzschmann, Hermann Saalfrank and Fritz Arno Wagner, Art Direction; Walter Rohrig (German episode), Hermann Warm (Persian and Venetian episodes) and Robert Herlth (Chinese episode), Lighting; Robert Hegewald, Oriental artefacts and costumes from the Heinrich Umlaff Museum, Hamburg.

Decla-Bioscop, Germany

Running time 99 mins.

A Genuine Giveaway!

To all visitors to the Devil's Manor...

Great News! Aficionados of Antique Anomalies may be pleased to learn that the Manor has a copy of the rare, full-length version of 'Genuine' to give away to one lucky recipient!

Go to your humble caretaker's Profile (at left) and send him an email explaining why you, of all people, deserve a copy of this hard-to-find and frankly rather strange old movie. In a couple of weeks from now, all emails received will be rounded up and stared at in a severe manner. The best (or most random) answer will get a FREE DVD-R copy (region 0) of the full 88-minute film (not available in stores!), as described below on these very pages.

Picture quality is unavoidably grainy (see screen grab above) but then, (a) the film is ninety-two years old, and (b) it's free. 'Nuff said. Winner will be notified by return email before the end of April. Thank you and good luck!

A small gesture of Friendship
from the Devil's Manor

Your friend, 

Bob the Caretaker

The Arrival From The Darkness (Prichozi Z Temnot) 1921

"At the Black Tower, see the shadow that surrounds the walls. If you are brave, you will see what lies behind the shadow!"

This rarity from Czechoslovakia concerns the mystery of an ancestral tower with an occupant who won't stay dead... a sobering lesson for landowners everywhere and an early starring role for Hitchcock's 'first blonde', Anny Ondra.

Director: Jan S. Kolar

Cast and Credits:

Theodor Pistek (Statkar Bohdan Drazicky), Anny Ondrakov (Dagmar Drazicky / Alena), Vladimir Majer (Richard Bor / Balthasar Borro), Karel Lamac (Jesek Drazicky), Jos. Svab-Malostransky (Jan)

Writer: Jan S. Kolar, Story: Karel Hlouchka.

Rex-Film, Prague

Running Time 43 mins.