Black Raven

Yes, it's true. I like "The Black Raven," almost despite myself. I found it under "Horror" on Amazon Prime Video, which is an incorrect classification in my opinion. This is more one part suspense/drama and one part mystery, though you'll probably guess the outcome. It suffers the normal video and audio issues of older movies (1943) that were not released as "headliners" (not quite a B movie, definitely not a studio's masterpiece). Performances were good, especially for the era.The story, despite flaws, was engaging. That's why my tagline. The title character is an early antihero. His motives are never quite clear, and his history is dubious. He has underlying ethics, however, that he can't help himself but to act upon. Mix with this a cast of odd characters involved in several subplots , and you have a fun movie. It's short runtime, only an hour, helps keep the plots moving briskly. Much longer, "The Black Raven" as at risk of becoming monotonous.Fans of old movies should probably see this.Those looking for horror tonight, pass for now.Those who prefer the more modern action movie, not your movie.

Brilliant way to start.Multiple cast of characters end up and 'The Raven' Inn due to a storm & bridge washed out.There is humor, foreboding, excellent use of Shadows, & good old-fashion idiot cop.Enjoy the way these old movies are written. ..word usage, context, and no mindless swearing for the ignorance of it.Good movie to watch on a dark and stormy night (or day)D~

Jimmy Aubrey stars as the Roadblock Watchman who informs several drivers that all the bridges are out. But not to worry, there's a hotel just down the road a piece called The Black Raven. You can get out of the storm and wait for the bridges to be repaired.It's the dead of night when fiends and felons, lovers on the run, gather at what they hope will prove to be a safe haven from the storm. It may provide shelter but it's anything but safe. First, there is a disgruntled escaped convict out for revenge against the owner of The Black Raven (George Zucco as Amos Bradford). Then a thug needing to cross the border shows up. While he's brokering a deal with Amos, a bank teller on the run with $50,000 checks in. There's also a young(ish) couple on the run from her overbearing criminal/politician dad, naturally, he shows up in time to bitch slap the boyfriend and lock up the daughter. And then the fun starts. There's a murder, or two, or three, four....... "He's dead, just like the phone." Thank goodness a witless sheriff shows up (Charles B. Middleton), to add to the general confusion.This is a fun movie; George Zucco is definitely in his element and enjoying it. As for the plot, it's a bit simplistic if not unchallenging. There's some comic relief, very little mystery, and a good dose of atmosphere. It might have proved a better viewing experience though, had the transfer been handled with the intention of actually being able to see more of the scenes. Too often the action was lost to unlit rooms and fight sequences shot outside during the nighttime storm.Otherwise, it's a fairly enjoyable, albeit brief, movie that I am happy to add to my collection.

Lots of twists in this tale! It's a story of an inn called The Black Raven and a man who shares the name. An escaped convict is out to get The Black Raven, but his first attempt is thwarted. The inn is on the border crossing to Canada. There is a terrible storm that washes out a bridge, so all sorts of people trying to escape into Canada wind up at The Black Raven. There are the lovers, the bad guy, the embezzler and a man who is connected to them all. Arguments, intrigue and murder follow. A jumpy employee finds the first, and second body. An inept sheriff arrives to throw more chaos into the mix. In the end . . . well, you'll just have to watch it and find out! Enjoy!

I love the old character actors and black and white movies. This is the stuff of my Saturday afternoons when I was a kid, and I have a true affection for them. This version is badly restored. The sound leaves much to be desired. However, I love the comic relief and plot so clearly intended to be a nail-biter! I found myself wishing that Zacherle or Elvira would interrupt with a few cutting remarks, but then, I'm pretty good at making up my own.

This a fairly good 'old dark house' movie starring horror icons George Zucco & Glenn(Frankenstein)Strange -Zucco is the proprietor of the Black Raven inn on the Canadian border and a stormy night which washes the local bridge away brings the usual group of travellers to the place. Of course there's an escaped convict in this group and a vicious gangster and a bag of stolen $50,000 which causes a night of murder and more murder. The print is not bad considering the movie was made by poverty row studio PRC in 1943.

Not the best of prints however still very watchable. Brilliant old mystery with creepy characters and of course the great George Zucco in the main lead. Brilliant !!