Before I Hang: Difference between revisions

Before I Hang
Before I Hang
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nick Grinde ; (as Nick Grindé)
Screenplay by	Robert Hardy Andrews ; (as Robert D. Andrews)
Story by	Karl Brown ; Robert Hardy Andrews ; (as Robert D. Andrews)
Starring	Boris Karloff
Cinematography	Benjamin H. Kline ; (as Benjamin Kline)
Edited by	Charles Nelson
Color process	Black and white
Production; company	Columbia Pictures
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	September 17, 1940;
Running time	62 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

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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

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

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

Notes

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

References

Pitts, Michael (2010). Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928–1982. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-4447-2.

External links

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

[Pitts-1] Pitts, 2010, p. 9

[karloff-2] Stephen Jacobs, Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster, Tomahawk Press 2011 pp. 260–261

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|1940 film by Nick Grinde}}
 {{Infobox film
 | name           = Before I Hang
 | image          = BeforeIhand.jpg
 | caption        = Theatrical release poster
-| director       = [[Nick Grinde]]<br>(ad Nick Grindé)
+| director       = [[Nick Grinde]] <br />(as Nick Grindé)
-| screenplay     = [[Robert Hardy Andrews]]<br>(as Robert D. Andrews)
+| screenplay     = [[Robert Hardy Andrews]] <br />(as Robert D. Andrews)
-| story          = Karl Brown<br>[[Robert Hardy Andrews]]<br>(as Robert D. Andrews)
+| story          = Karl Brown <br />[[Robert Hardy Andrews]] <br />(as Robert D. Andrews)
 | starring       = [[Boris Karloff]]
-| cinematography = [[Benjamin H. Kline]]<br>(as Benjamin Kline)
+| cinematography = [[Benjamin H. Kline]] <br />(as Benjamin Kline)
 | editing        = Charles Nelson
+| color_process  = [[Black and white]]
 | studio         = Columbia Pictures
 | distributor    = [[Columbia Pictures]]
@@ Line 16: / Line 18: @@
 | language       = English
 | budget         =
-| preceded by    =
-| followed by    =
 }}
-'''''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 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==
-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 [[Strangling|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==
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 * [[Edward Van Sloan]] as Dr. Ralph Howard
 * [[Ben Taggart]] as Warden Thompson
-* [[Pedro de Cordoba]] as Victor Sondini
+* [[Pedro de Cordoba|Pedro de Córdoba]] as Victor Sondini
 * Wright Kramer as George Wharton
-* Bertram Marburgh as 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
+* [[Frank Richards (actor)|Frank Richards]] as Otto Kron – Convict
 ==See also==
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 ==Notes==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
 ==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==
 {{Wikiquote}}
 * {{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}}
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 [[Category:1940 horror films]]
 [[Category:American science fiction horror films]]
-[[Category:American films]]
 [[Category:1940s science fiction horror films]]
-[[Category:English-language films]]
+[[Category:1940s English-language films]]
 [[Category:Films directed by Nick Grinde]]
 [[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
 [[Category:American black-and-white films]]
+[[Category:1940s American films]]
+[[Category:English-language science fiction horror films]]