The Black Room

The story

In a 16th-century European town, the ruling family has been given a prophecy that, should there ever be twin boys born, the younger will murder the older; so is dismayed when twins are born to the popular baron. The older grows to be a selfish, slovenly man, who inherits the castle at his father's death and becomes ruler over the formerly happy villagers. He enjoys his power until he learns his younger brother is returning from abroad and, afraid of the prophecy, he determines to murder his sibling, hide his body in the "black room" - an old torture chamber sealed away behind the fireplace - and then impersonate him, right down to his withered arm. In this way he hopes to not only avoid the prophecy, but also escape consequences of his other criminal deeds and obtain marriage to a local girl of the nobility...

Cast & crew

Boris KarloffBaron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman

Marian MarshThea Hassel

Robert AllenLt. Albert Lussan

Thurston HallCol. Paul Hassel

Katherine DeMilleMashka

John BucklerBeran - the gypsy

Henry KolkerBaron de Berghman

Colin TapleyPaul Hassel as a young lieutenant

Torben MeyerPeter, the majordomo

John GeorgeInn Waiter (uncredited)

John BleiferFranz - Captured Assassin-Villager (uncredited)

Marion LessingMaria the Chambermaid