The Black Cat (1941)

A greedy family gathers at the secluded mansion of the family matriarch (Cecilia Loftus) who they think is dying. But when the woman is murdered rather than dying a natural death, suspicion falls on each other. Then they find out that she has left all her money to her housekeeper (Gale Sondergaard) to care for the multitude of cats who live in the mansion. Directed by Albert S. Rogell, the film's credits say the movie is based on the famous Edgar Allan Poe short story but there's nothing Poe about this comedy horror other than the title. I love comedy horror (like THE GHOST BREAKERS and CAT AND THE CANARY, both with Bob Hope) and I love mysteries set in old dark houses on a stormy night so this would seem tailor made for me. Unfortunately, the comedy is principally provided by the annoying and unfunny Hugh Herbert who sucks the juice out of whatever life the movie might have. Still, the cast is pretty good for a B movie: Basil Rathbone, Broderick Crawford, Alan Ladd, Gladys Cooper, Bela Lugosi for starters. Then there's Anne Gwynne, John Eldredge and Claire Dodd.