"THE RAVEN" 1935
Written by David Boehm
Directed by Lew Landers (aka. David Friedlander)
Starring Bela Lugosi as Dr. Richard Vollin
and Boris Karloff as Edmond Bateman

Original lobby card for "The Raven." This image is taken from a photograph of
the actual card which was sold in an auction for over $3,000.00 in 1998!
 Image scaned from "Vintage Hollywood Posters Auction Booklet" 1998.

"The Raven" is not an innovative film, such as the others discussed on this site, but it is a highly entertaining film. Out of all of the films Bela Lugosi starred in this film stands out as probably the best suited to his over-the-top, highly demonstrative acting style. The role of Dr. Vollin gives Lugosi the chance to play a brilliant surgeon who is obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe. In the first part of the film Vollin appears to be very eccentric, and prone to making speeches about Poe's genius. As the film continues the viewer discovers that Vollin is a sadistic madman. Vollin laughs maniacially as he inflicts emotional torement on others -- and in the role Lugosi has the opportunity to speak some of the most memorable dialogue ever heard in a thriller.