Murders In The Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven

Triple bill of Edgar Allan Poe horror adaptations starring Bela Lugosi. In 'Murders in the Rue Morgue' (1932) Lugosi stars as Dr Mirakle, a mad scientist with a talking ape called Erik who he exhibits at carnival sideshows. In order to find a mate for Erik Mirakle kidnaps young women hoping to inject them with ape blood.

When medical student Pierre Dupin (Leon Ames) visits one of the sideshows with his partner Camille (Sidney Fox), Mirakle becomes obsessed with Camille and convinced that she will make the perfect partner for Erik. In 'The Black Cat' (1934) Hungarian psychiatrist Dr Vitus Werdegast (Lugosi) is returning to see old friend, renowned architect Hjalmar Poelzig (Boris Karloff). On the journey Werdegast shares a train compartment with newlyweds Peter (David Manners) and Joan (Jacqueline Wells) on their honeymoon.

Following an accident Joan is badly injured and treated by Werdegast once they reach the home of Poelzig. However, Werdegast has old scores to settle with Poelzig and when Joan begins acting erratically it becomes clear that all is not what it seems. Finally, in 'The Raven' (1935) Lugosi stars as Dr Richard Vollin, a retired surgeon who falls in love with Jean Thatcher (Irene Ware) after performing surgery on her following a car accident.

However, when he declares his love to Thatcher's father, Judge Thatcher (Samuel S. Hinds), he is discouraged from the affair. Upset by the rebuttal, Vollin vows for vengeance and when he meets fugitive Edmond Bateman (Karloff), he uses him as a pawn to gain his revenge.