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{{short description|1940 film by Nick Grinde}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Before I Hang
| name = Before I Hang
| image = BeforeIhand.jpg
| image = BeforeIhand.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Nick Grinde]]
| director = [[Nick Grinde]] <br />(as Nick Grindé)
| screenplay = [[Robert Hardy Andrews]] <br />(as Robert D. Andrews)
| producer = [[Wallace MacDonald]]
| writer = [[Robert Hardy Andrews]]<br>Karl Brown
| story = Karl Brown <br />[[Robert Hardy Andrews]] <br />(as Robert D. Andrews)
| starring = [[Boris Karloff]]<br>[[Evelyn Keyes]]
| starring = [[Boris Karloff]]
⚫
| cinematography = [[Benjamin H. Kline]] <br />(as Benjamin Kline)
| music = Morris Stoloff
⚫
| cinematography = [[Benjamin H. Kline]]
| editing = Charles Nelson
| editing = Charles Nelson
| color_process = [[Black and white]]
| studio = Columbia Pictures
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| released = {{start date|1940|09|17}}
| released = {{film date|1940|09|17}}
| runtime = 62 minutes
| runtime = 62 minutes
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| budget =
| preceded by =
| followed by =
}}
}}
'''''Befoe I Hang''''' is a 1940 American [[science fiction]], [[horror film]] released by [[Columbia Pictures]], starring [[Boris Karloff]]. The film was directed by [[Nick Grinde]] (under the working title '''''The Wizard of Death'''''), and was one of several films Karloff starred in contract with Columbia.<ref name="Pitts">Pitts, 2010, p. 9</ref><ref name="karloff">Stephen Jacobs, ''Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster'', Tomohawk Press 2011 p 260-261</ref>
'''''Before I Hang''''' is a 1940 American [[horror film]] released by [[Columbia Pictures]], starring [[Boris Karloff]]. The film was directed by [[Nick Grinde]] (under the working title '''''The Wizard of Death''''') and was one of several films Karloff starred in under contract with Columbia.<ref name="Pitts">Pitts, 2010, p.&nbsp;9</ref><ref name="karloff">Stephen Jacobs, ''Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster'', Tomahawk Press 2011 pp.&nbsp;260–261</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==


Dr. John Garth ([[Boris Karloff]]) is on [[trial]] for murder after performing a [[mercy killing]] on an elderly friend. In the trial, he reveals that he had been researching a cure for [[aging]], but had not had time to perfect it before his friend's pain became unbearable. Despite his pleas for mercy, the [[judge]] sentences him to be [[hanged]] in three weeks' time.
Dr. John Garth ([[Boris Karloff]]) is on [[trial]] for murder after performing a [[mercy killing]] on an elderly friend. In the trial, he reveals that he had been researching a cure for [[aging]] but had not had time to perfect it before his friend's pain became unbearable. Despite his pleas for mercy, the [[judge]] sentences him to be [[hanged]] in three weeks' time.


As he awaits his execution, Dr. Garth is allowed to continue his experiments, thanks to support from the [[prison warden]] ([[Ben Taggart]]) and another [[scientist]] who is interested in his research, Dr. Ralph Howard ([[Edward Van Sloan]]). Using the blood of a recently executed prisoner, they succeed in developing a serum that will reverse the effects of aging and they decide to test it on Dr. Garth immediately prior to his execution. As he is being taken away to the gallows, however, the prison receives a call informing them that Dr. Garth's sentence has been [[Commutation of sentence|commuted]] to life imprisonment. At the same moment, the serum's effect on his body causes Dr. Garth to collapse.
As he awaits his execution, Dr. Garth is allowed to continue his experiments, thanks to support from the [[prison warden]] ([[Ben Taggart]]) and another scientist who is interested in his research, Dr. Ralph Howard ([[Edward Van Sloan]]). Using the blood of a recently executed prisoner, they succeed in developing a serum that will reverse the effects of aging and decide to test it on Dr.&nbsp;Garth immediately prior to his execution. As he is being taken away to the gallows, however, the prison receives a call informing them that Dr. Garth's sentence has been [[Commutation of sentence|commuted]] to life imprisonment. At the same moment, the serum's effect on his body causes Dr. Garth to collapse.


When Dr. Garth awakes in the prison medical ward, he discovers that the serum has reversed some of the effects of aging on his body, including the graying of his hair, the appearance of his face, and his [[physical fitness]]. Encouraged, he decides to perform another test of the serum, this time on Dr. Howard. As he is preparing Dr. Howard for injection, however, Dr. Garth is overcome by a sudden urge to kill, induced by the presence of an executed [[murderer]]'s blood in his system. After he [[strangles]] Dr. Howard, a wandering prisoner enters the room who, after a struggle, is also killed by Dr. Garth.
When Dr. Garth awakens in the prison medical ward, he discovers that the serum has reversed some of the effects of aging on his body, including the graying of his hair, the appearance of his face, and his [[physical fitness]]. Encouraged, he decides to perform another test of the serum, this time on Dr. Howard. As he is preparing Dr. Howard for injection, however, Dr. Garth is overcome by a sudden urge to kill induced by the presence of an executed [[murderer]]'s blood in his system. After he [[Strangling|strangles]] Dr.&nbsp;Howard, a wandering prisoner enters the room and, after a struggle, is also killed by Dr. Garth.


When the prison authorities discover Dr. Garth, who doesn't remember committing the murders, and the two bodies, they believe that the wandering prisoner killed Dr. Howard and attempted to kill Dr. Garth. As a result, Garth is labelled a [[hero]] and granted a full [[pardon]]. He returns home to live with his daughter, Martha ([[Evelyn Keyes]]), and continues his research on the anti-aging serum.
When the prison authorities discover Dr. Garth, who does not remember committing the murders, and the two bodies, they believe that the wandering prisoner killed Dr. Howard and attempted to kill Dr.&nbsp;Garth. As a result, Garth is labelled a [[hero]] and granted a full [[pardon]]. He returns home to live with his daughter, Martha ([[Evelyn Keyes]]), and continues his research on the anti-aging serum.


Wishing to test it further, he confronts three of his aging friends and requests that they be his test subjects. Initially, they refuse, but one of them, Victor Sondini ([[Pedro de Cordoba]]), later changes his mind after Dr. Garth pays him a personal visit. Just as he is about to administer the serum, Garth is again overcome by the impulses of the executed prisoner and strangles his friend. Finally beginning to realize what he has been doing, Garth visits one of his other friends, George Wharton (Wright Kramer), to confess his crimes and request that he be his final test subject before he turns himself in. Wharton attempts to call for help, but Garth kills him before he can do so.
Wishing to test it further, he confronts three of his aging friends and requests that they be his test subjects. Initially they refuse, but one of them, Victor Sondini ([[Pedro de Cordoba|Pedro de Córdoba]]), later changes his mind after Dr.&nbsp;Garth pays him a visit. Just as he is about to administer the serum, Garth is again overcome by the impulses of the executed prisoner and strangles his friend. Finally beginning to realize what he has been doing, Garth visits one of his other friends, George Wharton (Wright Kramer), to confess his crimes and request that he be his final test subject before he turns himself in. Wharton attempts to call for help, but Garth kills him before he can do so.


As the bodies begin to pile up and Dr. Garth's behavior becomes more erratic, Martha begins to suspect that something is up and confronts her father. Garth begs her to leave as he continues to fight the impulses of the murderous blood, but she refuses and he comes at her. She faints and Dr. Garth flees. In the final scene, Dr. Garth, now being pursued by the police, approaches the prison where he had been incarcerated. The warden admits him, but Garth immediately makes aggressive movements toward the armed guard at the gate. The guard shoots him and, as he is dying, the doctor admits that he committed suicide in order to prevent himself from killing anyone else.
As the bodies begin to pile up and Dr. Garth's behavior becomes more erratic, Martha begins to suspect that something is up and confronts her father. Garth begs her to leave as he continues to fight the impulses of the murderous blood, but she refuses and he comes at her. She faints and Dr. Garth flees. In the final scene, Dr.&nbsp;Garth, now being pursued by the police, approaches the prison where he had been incarcerated. The warden admits him, but Garth immediately makes aggressive movements toward the armed guard at the gate. The guard shoots him, and as he is dying the doctor admits that he committed suicide in order to prevent himself from killing anyone else.


==Cast==
==Cast==
*[[Boris Karloff]] (Dr. John Garth)
* [[Boris Karloff]] as Dr. John Garth
*[[Evelyn Keyes]] (Martha Garth)
* [[Evelyn Keyes]] as Martha Garth
*[[Bruce Bennett]] (Dr. Paul Ames)
* [[Bruce Bennett]] as Dr. Paul Ames
*[[Edward Van Sloan]] (Dr. Ralph Howard)
* [[Edward Van Sloan]] as Dr. Ralph Howard
*[[Ben Taggart]] (Warden Thompson)
* [[Ben Taggart]] as Warden Thompson
*[[Pedro de Cordoba]] (Victor Sondini)
* [[Pedro de Cordoba|Pedro de Córdoba]] as Victor Sondini
*Wright Kramer (George Wharton)
* Wright Kramer as George Wharton
*Bertram Marburgh (Stephen Barclay)
* [[Bertram Marburgh]] as Stephen Barclay
* [[Don Beddoe]] as Capt. McGraw
* [[Robert Fiske (actor)|Robert Fiske]] as District Attorney
* [[Kenneth MacDonald (American actor)|Kenneth MacDonald]] as Anson, Prison Guard
* [[Frank Richards (actor)|Frank Richards]] as Otto Kron – Convict


==See also==
==See also==
Line 50: Line 54:


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==References==
==References==
*{{cite book |title=Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928-1982|last=Pitts |first=Michael |year=2010 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=0-7864-4447-9 }}<!--|accessdate=April 29, 2011-->
* {{cite book |title=Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928–1982|last=Pitts |first=Michael |year=2010 |publisher=McFarland & Company |isbn=978-0-7864-4447-2 }}<!--|accessdate=April 29, 2011-->


==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{IMDb title|0032245}}
* {{IMDb title|0032245}}
*{{tcmdb title|27866|Before I Hang}}
* {{TCMDb title|27866|Before I Hang}}
*{{Amg movie|4634|Before I Hang}}
* {{AllMovie title|4634|Before I Hang}}


{{Nick Grinde}}
{{Nick Grinde}}


[[Category:1940 films]]
[[Category:1940 films]]
[[Category:1940s horror films]]
[[Category:1940 horror films]]
[[Category:American science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:American science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1940s science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:Pre-1950 science fiction films]]
[[Category:1940s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Nick Grinde]]
[[Category:Films directed by Nick Grinde]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:1940s American films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language science fiction horror films]]

Latest revision as of 04:56, 9 September 2024

Before I Hang
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNick Grinde
(as Nick Grindé)
Screenplay byRobert Hardy Andrews
(as Robert D. Andrews)
Story byKarl Brown
Robert Hardy Andrews
(as Robert D. Andrews)
StarringBoris Karloff
CinematographyBenjamin H. Kline
(as Benjamin Kline)
Edited byCharles Nelson
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
Columbia Pictures
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • September 17, 1940 (1940-09-17)
Running time
62 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Before I Hang is a 1940 American horror film released by Columbia Pictures, starring Boris Karloff. The film was directed by Nick Grinde (under the working title The Wizard of Death) and was one of several films Karloff starred in under contract with Columbia.[1][2]

Plot

[edit]

Dr. John Garth (Boris Karloff) is on trial for murder after performing a mercy killing on an elderly friend. In the trial, he reveals that he had been researching a cure for aging but had not had time to perfect it before his friend's pain became unbearable. Despite his pleas for mercy, the judge sentences him to be hanged in three weeks' time.

As he awaits his execution, Dr. Garth is allowed to continue his experiments, thanks to support from the prison warden (Ben Taggart) and another scientist who is interested in his research, Dr. Ralph Howard (Edward Van Sloan). Using the blood of a recently executed prisoner, they succeed in developing a serum that will reverse the effects of aging and decide to test it on Dr. Garth immediately prior to his execution. As he is being taken away to the gallows, however, the prison receives a call informing them that Dr. Garth's sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment. At the same moment, the serum's effect on his body causes Dr. Garth to collapse.

When Dr. Garth awakens in the prison medical ward, he discovers that the serum has reversed some of the effects of aging on his body, including the graying of his hair, the appearance of his face, and his physical fitness. Encouraged, he decides to perform another test of the serum, this time on Dr. Howard. As he is preparing Dr. Howard for injection, however, Dr. Garth is overcome by a sudden urge to kill induced by the presence of an executed murderer's blood in his system. After he strangles Dr. Howard, a wandering prisoner enters the room and, after a struggle, is also killed by Dr. Garth.

When the prison authorities discover Dr. Garth, who does not remember committing the murders, and the two bodies, they believe that the wandering prisoner killed Dr. Howard and attempted to kill Dr. Garth. As a result, Garth is labelled a hero and granted a full pardon. He returns home to live with his daughter, Martha (Evelyn Keyes), and continues his research on the anti-aging serum.

Wishing to test it further, he confronts three of his aging friends and requests that they be his test subjects. Initially they refuse, but one of them, Victor Sondini (Pedro de Córdoba), later changes his mind after Dr. Garth pays him a visit. Just as he is about to administer the serum, Garth is again overcome by the impulses of the executed prisoner and strangles his friend. Finally beginning to realize what he has been doing, Garth visits one of his other friends, George Wharton (Wright Kramer), to confess his crimes and request that he be his final test subject before he turns himself in. Wharton attempts to call for help, but Garth kills him before he can do so.

As the bodies begin to pile up and Dr. Garth's behavior becomes more erratic, Martha begins to suspect that something is up and confronts her father. Garth begs her to leave as he continues to fight the impulses of the murderous blood, but she refuses and he comes at her. She faints and Dr. Garth flees. In the final scene, Dr. Garth, now being pursued by the police, approaches the prison where he had been incarcerated. The warden admits him, but Garth immediately makes aggressive movements toward the armed guard at the gate. The guard shoots him, and as he is dying the doctor admits that he committed suicide in order to prevent himself from killing anyone else.

Cast

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Pitts, 2010, p. 9
  2. ^ Stephen Jacobs, Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster, Tomahawk Press 2011 pp. 260–261

References

[edit]
  • Pitts, Michael (2010). Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928–1982. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-4447-2.
[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to Before I Hang.
  • Before I Hang at IMDb
  • Before I Hang at the TCM Movie Database
  • ‹The template AllMovie title is being considered for deletion.› Before I Hang at AllMovie
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