The Black Castle (1952)

A former British soldier (Richard Greene) suspects that two of his friends were murdered by a sinister Austrian Count (Stephen McNally). Using a false identity, he ingratiates himself into the Count's circle to investigate. What he didn't count on was falling in love with the Count's beautiful young wife (Rita Corday). Directed by Nathan Juran (7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD), this piece of Gothic horror has all the trappings of a juicy Universal horror movie: a secluded castle, a dungeon, creepy servants, a wicked one eyed villain, a pit of snapping alligators, a damsel in distress, a sadistic doctor etc. So why isn't it more fun? Maybe if Boris Karloff had played the evil Count instead of the doctor (a supporting role), it might have played better. As the Count, Stephen McNally just doesn't have the requisite gravitas or elegance, he plays it like a gangster. It's an okay programmer but never rises above pedestrian fare. With Lon Chaney, Michael Pate, John Hoyt and Henry Corden.