Horrors of the Black Museum
Tags: murder

Plot synopsis:
HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM In London a delivery truck pulls up in front of an apartment building and the postman (Frank Forsyth) delivers a package to Gail Dunlap (Dorinda Stevens), who signs for it and takes it inside. Her roommate Peggy (Malou Pantera) encourages her to open it and find out who sent it. It is revealed to be a pair of expensive binoculars. Gail takes it over to the window to have a look. Suddenly she screams, holding her hands over her bloody eyes and collapses on the floor. Peggy screams and runs out the door for help. The binoculars are shown to have two sharp-pointed awls which were spring-loaded and released into her eyes when she turned the focus knob.At Scotland Yard, Peggy answers questions from Supt. Graham (Geoffrey Keen) and is escorted out the door by Insp. Lodge (John Warwick). Before the door can be closed, in comes Edmund Bancroft (Michael Gough) who is scarcely welcome. Asking to see the binoculars, Bancroft says that the murderer must have seen them in the black museum of the police. He suggests maybe a disgruntled policeman might be the culprit. Graham asks if that will be the subject of his next article in the newspaper. Bancroft reminds them that they do not control the writing of his column, books or newspaper articles which are always accurate. More discussion on who the murderer might be and what weapon might next be used is interrupted by a phone call from Commissioner Wayne (Austin Trevor), who summons the police to a meeting.At the meeting Wayne finds that the police have absolutely no leads on whom the suspect might be. It is confirmed that the weapon used was like one of the ones seen in the police black museum. Wayne tells them they must find the killer.Dr. Ballan (Gerald Anderson as Gerald Andersen) tells Bancroft that he shouldnt smoke but that his real addiction is working on crime cases. After each of the recent murders Bancroft has seen the doctor for treatment: high blood pressure, racing heartbeat, etc. Bancroft refuses to take tranquilizers or slow down until the killer is caught. He insists that the police might never be able to find the perpetrator without his help. He promises the doctor that he will become obedient once the crimes are solved.Aggie (Beatrice Varley) is stocking her antique shop when Bancroft enters. She tells him she has an item he might be interested in: a music box/cigarette case. He says he is not interested but only wants clues. Finding a kris dagger with a wavy blade, he haggles with her and buys it. She tells him that she reads all his books and articles. He tells her that he believes because of her age that she is safe from the killer.Returning home to his office, Bancroft greets his assistant, Rick (Graham Curnow), who tells him there were a few crank calls after the last article came out. Bancroft insists that all information they publish be accurate. Rick asks if he should pick up the mail from readers or the cigars that came in from the tobacconist, but is told that they have more important work to do now. They go downstairs where Rick is told to unlock a door. Inside they step into Bancrofts own black museum, filled with figures of murderers and victims along with various instruments of torture and murder. Bancroft rattles on about how his museum is far superior to that of Scotland Yard and that his weapons will continue to be useful in the future. He also notes that his electronic machine will continue to make the museum alive.Meanwhile Dr. Ballon dictates notes to his nurse, in which he says he believes Bancroft is the victim of some aberration which if untreated will be fatal. He recommends psychiatric treatment.Bancroft is drinking at the apartment of Joan Berkley (June Cunningham), a blonde with whom he has been keeping company. She complains that he never takes her anywhere and that she is tired of it. He argues with her, saying that he deserves a medal for putting up with her. She insists he give her some money and he refuses. Taking up his cane, she tells him he is half a man without it, and would be no man without his money (he has been paying for her apartment, food and her company). He gets violent and smashes dishes and glasses on the table. She breaks up with him, telling him she will find a real man and for him to get out for good. He leaves in a huff.At the local tavern, Joan dances to juke box music. Many older men watch in amusement. One man asks to buy her a drink. She tells him she already has one from another man, which she sits down at a table with. She soon insults him and he leaves. Going to the bar, she tells the barman Ted (Richard Caldicot) how she intends to have fun from now on, and that no man will hold her down. He gives her a drink on the house, telling her to return soon.Walking alone down the street in the dark, she hears footsteps behind her. She turns and finds two constables (William Abney and Howard Pays) who walk her home and converse with her. Once home, she goes upstairs into her apartment and prepares for bed as the radio plays. Climbing into bed, she is horrified to observe a strange man with a horrible face looking down. She screams as he releases a guillotine which comes down, beheading her. Gathering up all his tools into a bag, he prepares to leave.Outside in the hall, neighbors complain about the scream from her apartment. One man (Sidney Bromley) knocks on the door, which suddenly opens and the culprit runs out, carrying his bag and pushing everyone aside.Supt. Graham questions two ladies in the hall (Hilda Barry and Nora Gordon) who claim it was an older man with a wrinkled face. Another man claims it was the devil or someone who looked like him. One woman tells that he wore a jacket like the young students wear. Graham thanks them all and leaves, telling the constable to remain.A little girl (Ingrid Cardon) tells the constable that she saw the man who entered the apartment earlier with a cane and unlocked the door with a key. Her mother suggests that she made this up or saw it on television. They are all told to go to bed by the constable, and all leave.At the crime scene, Graham and Lodge discuss what they see. Lodge says the head has not been found. The medical examiner (Frank Henderson) suggests maybe it was a guillotine and that she didnt have a chance. Fingerprint expert (Garard Green) tells them it will be hard to get a print off the shattered fragments of glass.A newspaper seller (Thomas Gallagher) hawks the latest edition which reads   KILLER STRIKES AGAIN . One man (Edgar Driver) comments on the story as does another woman.Bancroft is attending a party thrown by his publisher for his new book which has just come out when Graham enters. They immediately begin discussing the case, with Graham saying that Bancroft knows too much about the case. Before leaving, Graham mentions that the culprit has been caught and has confessed to all four crimes. Bancroft seems uninterested in the details but thanks him for the offer.The suspect, Tom Rivers (Howard Greene) demands to see Comm. Wayne and Supt. Graham. He wants to confess to additional murders committed before. He claims to have strangled a waitress in Dover with his bare hands. Bragging about how good he is with his hands, he claims he can build anything. He tells them his next weapon will be a death ray which he is working on, which he will shoot from his eyes. As his stories become wilder, Wayne and Graham leave. Outside the cell, the Sergeant (Geoffrey Denton) comes with a report saying that Rivers was discharged from the military and has been in and out of three mental institutions but is harmless. Graham says these false confessors always memorize the details to seem impressive. He suggests to Wayne that Rivers be detained longer so the press will comment, hoping the killer will be flushed out. Wayne agrees.Reading the paper, Bancroft gloats at the details offered by the press. Rick is surprised when Bancroft tells him they wont get a photo of Rivers for his article. He tells Rick that they will dig out other false confessions from his archives. Bancroft tells Rick he will be gone for a couple of hours and leaves. Rick waits until he is out of sight, looks at his watch, and rushes out.In the park, Rick meets his girlfriend, Angela Banks (Shirley Anne Field as Shirley Ann Field) and promises to tell his employer (Bancroft) about them soon. He confesses that Bancroft has a hold over him to the point where he is unable to refuse anything. She urges him to stand up for himself and tell about their relationship. He promises but swears he has to get back.Entering the antique shop, Bancroft finds Aggie waiting for him. She says he always comes after each murder. She has something for him: large ice tongs. He says he believes he would be interested in them. She tells him the price is £1200, to which he says she is out of her mind. She says he will pay it because she has helped him all this time but that he is the one making all the money. She confesses that she knows that it was he who killed the woman with the binoculars she sold him (because she saw her mark on them in the newspaper photo, which she shows him). He agrees to pay her, but says he doesnt carry that much cash with him. She tells him to bring it tomorrow and turns away. Grabbing the tongs, he seizes her neck with them. She falls bleeding to the floor. He wipes fingerprints off the tongs, the magnifying glass and the doorknob on his way out.The next morning Rick drives Bancroft to Scotland Yard where a newspaper seller announces that a shopkeeper has been murdered. Bancroft tells Rick that the police will be unable to find the murderer without any fingerprints. Rick is told to go back to work and that Bancroft will return by taxi.Bancroft comes in to gloat that the police are not able to do anything and asks to interview Rivers. He tells Graham that he will show in his article that the police are not infallible and will cast a sympathetic view in writing. Graham tells him he is too late; that Rivers was confined to a mental institution. Bancroft leaves, telling Graham  better luck next time in catching the murderer. Working in his museum, Bancroft is operating the machine when the door buzzer sounds. He tells Rick to answer it. Dr. Ballon comes in and confronts Bancroft, saying that Bancroft has perpetrated the murders and needs to be institutionalized. He tells him to accompany him to the police, where he will explain the aberration and have Bancroft put away. Pretending to surrender, Bancroft tells Ballon he will do so now. When Bancroft throws a switch on the machine, Ballon is struck with a death ray, killing him. He tells Rick to help him with the body. A chain is attached, and the body is lowered into a vat of acid for a few moments. When it is removed, only a skeleton remains. Bancroft notices that Rick seems hesitant to do his commands. He tells Rick to hang the skeleton up on the wall and take the night off.Bancroft is appearing at the local bookstore to autograph his book  TERROR IN THE NIGHT . Several people are seen telling him what to write. The bookshop manager (Gerald Case) tells him they sold over 200 copies and it was most successful. Inquiring about the next book, he is told it will be his best so far.Coming home early, Bancroft is horrified to see Rick kissing Angela in the black museum. She tells him they plan to be married soon and that Rick tells her everything about his work. Bancroft tells her next time he will lead her on a tour of his museum. He tells Rick to take her home because they have work to do. She insists that Rick was to take her to the fun fair. He suggests she wait upstairs while he dictates notes to Rick and then they can go. She says she will read his book and goes upstairs.Bancroft turns his anger on Rick and chews him out for bringing Angela into their secret museum. Rick admits he was wrong and wants to know how to appease him. Bancroft prepares a syringe, telling Rick he has waited too long between treatments. Giving Rick the injection, he ascertains that no one else knew about tonight. He tells Rick that one day all this will belong to him; that he will go further than Bancroft did-into the very black soul of man. He reveals that the injections prove that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was not just a story, but a reality he is proving. He tells Rick to take Angela to the fair and do exactly as he is told.Rick and Angela walk around at the fair. When Rick bumps into a passing man, he becomes angry and Angela is surprised. He confesses that he lost his temper. He tells her that from what he has learned he will greatly benefit from Bancroft.They come to where a strength-test barker (Stuart Saunders) is calling for young men to hit the bell at the top of the pole by striking the bottom with a large hammer. The barker taunts Rick about his strength, but Rick insists he will do it. Taking the hammer, he pounds it and rings the bell to the astonishment of the barker and amusement of everyone watching.Angela encourages Rick to stand up to Bancroft and tell him off. She believes he should find another job. Maybe it is working for Bancroft that causes Ricks anger. He doesnt want to talk about it. She says it is a closed subject for tonight. They go into the Tunnel of Love.In the dark, several couples are heard talking. One couple has the woman wanting to smooch, and the other has the man wanting to. When Rick and Angela come out at the end, Ricks face has transformed into that of the killer. Angela screams and Rick stabs her with the dagger. He runs off through the fairway and goes into the Hall of Mirrors. Several people are looking at their distorted images in the mirrors. Rick comes in and looks at his face in one of them. A girl (Carole Ann Ford) notices him looking and asks to borrow his face to scare her boss. When he turns around with the dagger she screams and runs away. He leaves there and goes to the Ferris wheel where he climbs up high. Police and bystanders watch from below as the wheel is stopped.Bancroft brings the draft of his article to Graham and Lodge to inspect. Graham receives a call that the killer is trapped at the fair. They leave and Bancroft insists on coming along, saying he absolutely must have this story.Arriving at the fair, Graham and Lodge are directed to where Rick is atop the ride. They shout for him to come down and they will not shoot. Bancroft comes alongside and looks up at him. Lodge calls for him to come down once more. Rick calls down to Bancroft, telling him that he did everything Bancroft told him to do. Bancroft angrily calls for the police to shoot him down, saying hes a dangerous criminal. At this point Rick jumps and is shot by a policeman. He falls on Bancroft, stabbing him with the dagger. Graham and Lodge crowd around and Graham announces that the monster murderer has been caught.

Review: The killer here has such a private collection himself which provides the film with a couple of utterly cool gimmicks, like the previously mentioned binoculars, an acid-bath and even a mini-guillotine!
The plot of this movie has a demented crime writer hypnotizing an assistant and sending him out to kill people with torturous and bizarre methods, just to prove he can.
Death by binoculars with spikes NOTE: This particular device was inspired by an actual device that exists in a Scotland Yard Museum, Ice tongs through the neck, guillotine, knife in the heart whilst in the tunnel of love, electrocution ray and last but not least, death via vat of acid.
He just happens to be the curator of a very private museum of wax figures, the figures of famous murderers!Not to discount Michael Gough as mad writer, Edmond Bancroft.
Gough, who has appeared in numerous horror films, such as: "Horror of Dracula (1958), The Phantom of the Opera (1962), Black Zoo (1963), Berserk (1967), Horror Hospital (1972) and in a series of mad-scientist roles, Konga (1961), The Skull (1965), and They Came From Beyond Space (1967) and many more, does a marvelous job in the role.
'Horrors Of The Black Museum' is a dated but still entertaining Brit chiller that will most appeal to fans of William Castle's gimmick filled movies from the same era ('The House On Haunted Hill', 'The Tingler', '13 Ghosts', 'Homicidal',etc.) The late Michael Gough plays Edmund Bancroft, an eccentric writer and amateur crime expert, who irritates local police baffled at a spate of brutal and sensationalistic crimes, apparently without motive.
The movie was originally released in "Hypnovision" but the reason to watch it today is Gough's larger than life performance, and the inventive killing methods, which include the much talked about binoculars-with-needles-in-the-eyepieces.
Apart from the plot of "Horrors of the Black Museum" (which I won't go into here - if you're interested, you can always read the plot summary) the movie has a special feature (Hypnovista) which probably is one of the reasons why it's still around now.
The script is REAL stupid, the dialogue terrible and most of the acting is dreadful--Graham Curnow as Bancroft's assistant is especially bad (no surprise that he never made another movie).
So it's worth seeing for Gough and the murders.Also this originally opened with a 13 minute prologue about hypnotism which plays a part in the film.
This is down to a combination of very bad acting, which ranges from Michael Gough hamming it up to the very wooden acting of Cunningham and Field (only Geoffrey Keene gives anything resembling a good performance, yet even he seems bored with the material) and a very laughable script.
The actors struggle with poor dialogue, while the narrative doesn't seem to know whether it's a mystery or not (it's obvious who the murder is right from his first appearance yet we are expected to be shocked when he's identity is revealed).The only positive point about this movie is its splendid Eastmancolor look, but aside from that it is both flat and dull.
Wax Museum + Killer Binoculars + Michael Gough = One Hell Of A Good Time!.
Known for his over-the-top turns in many genre films, Horror Of The Black Museum is a perfect exemplification of Gough's non-stop twisted maniacal facial expressions run rampant.
It's reasonably amusing, but its good moments are spread pretty far apart amid a lot of talk and a slow pace (even so, the movie only runs 79 minutes long).Fiendish murders are plaguing the city of London, and prominent crime expert / journalist Edmond Bancroft (Michael Gough) just loves it to write about it.
This sets him at odds with the weary Scotland Yard detectives investigating the case, including Superintendent Graham (Geoffrey Keen, whom one may recognize from his appearances in several James Bond franchise entries) and Inspector Lodge (John Warwick).The movie can boast a couple of nifty gadgets: binoculars that shoot needles into unwary eyes, a pair of ice tongs, and a miniature guillotine.
The title derives from the collection kept by the Yard of hideous murder implements; Bancroft also maintains an impressive collection of his own.Helping to make this little horror film palatable are gorgeous CinemaScope photography and an excellent cast also including June Cunningham as Bancrofts' fed-up girlfriend, Graham Curnow as his loyal assistant Rick, the lovely Shirley Anne Field as Ricks' gal pal Angela, Beatrice Varley as shop keeper Aggie, and Austin Trevor as Commissioner Wayne.
Not even the first murder interested me the way it was done.I guess the murders themselves are the reason this film is classified a horror film but it looks, feels and plays out more like a regular crime flick to me with some out of the ordinary murders occurring.
Michael Gough, with a limp and a silver-headed cane, plus a dramatic white streak in his hair, and honing the accent he would use decades later as Alfred, the butler, in BATMAN, hobbles around London as crime historian Edmond Bancroft, inspired by Edgar Lustgarten, who hosted numerous true-crime films between 1953 and 1967.
The film's best scenes involve veteran Beatrice Varley as Aggie, the junk-shop dealer who sells Bancroft the knives, axes etc with which the crimes are committed, but, when she tries to blackmail him, is herself despatched with a set of iceman's steel tongs.
Becoming aware of the title after reading a positive review from Kim Newman,and knowing Michael Gough as one of the main character actors from Hammer Horror,I got a ticket for the museum.The plot:For the last few weeks someone has been going around killing women in London and the police have no clue who it could be.
Laughing behind their backs, Bancroft falls in love with doing the killings himself,and knowing that there is no chance the cops will catch him (with the bonus that he can included the murder in his next book!) Going to buy his next murder weapon from the antiques shop,Bancroft is taken aback,when the seller asks him what has he been using the objects for.View on the film:Including the US " Hypnovista" intro as an extra,Network deliver a sparkling transfer,with the picture retaining its vivid shine,and the soundtrack ringing with crisp screams.
Made when British Gothic Horror was at its peak,the screenplay by Herman Cohen and Aben Kandel breaks the castle walls down with an almighty thump.Taking inspiration from Film Noir,the writers dismantle the English "Gentlemen" cad of British Horror for the scum of the earth,who wallow in darkness as Bancroft pens a new murderous tale.Taking delight in keeping the cops completely out of their depths,the writers axe the flick with a mischievous dark sense of humour, throwing bonkers methods of killing (a bedroom guillotine!)and acid-tongue,spiteful dialogue at the viewer.Bowing out for the final time,director Arthur Crabtree stakes the most kitsch aspects of the film with a sheer delight.Giving Bancroft his own "Batcave" Crabtree paints Bancroft's novel with the most garish colours possible,grinding in wet blood being dropped on the streets by Gerard Schurmann's roaring score,to Bancroft's lair being soaked in brightly coloured blocks.
This scene is a piece of classic horror and easily the best moment of the film.Although the monster makeup leaves something to be desired (it basically looks like grey paint), there is a good scene with the monster in a hall of mirrors, where he is taunted by a young couple before turning on them with a knife!
While none of the acting is sub-par, with the likes of Shirley Anne Field involved (also, Geoffrey Keen has a role as a tough policeman), the film really belongs to Michael Gough as the criminal genius.
HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM is a typical piece of '50s exploitation, much in the style of CIRCUS OF HORRORS and is a film which is raised above average by the strength of Gough's performance alone.
Watching Gough oil his way through scenes, bark out orders or diatribes about some silly nonsense, accentuate his crippled affectation, or just leer or look condescendingly on some poor unfortunate person make this film work for me.
I've seen Horrors of the Black Museum a couple of times and found it quite enjoyable if gruesome for its time.A writer, Edmond Bancroft hypnotises his assistant to murder people and then write about the crimes in the local newspaper and also for his books.
He injects his assistant just before he takes his lover to the fair and he turns into a monster, kills his lover and climbs up a big wheel where Bancroft appears along with the police and he jumps off the wheel and stabs Bancroft to death and is shot dead himself.Horrors of the Black Museum was made in 1958 and is rather violent and gory for its time.
Certainly not family viewing.Joining Michael Gough (Dracula, Konga) in the cast are Graham Curnow, Shirly Anne Field (These Are the Damned), Geoffery Keen and June Cunningham.This is a must for all horror fans.
Horrors of the Black Museum is a very good thriller which Gough dominates from beginning to end with his strong on screen presence and distinctive, rich voice and aristocratic mannerisms.
Gough was a consummate professional, but it really seems that he had a lot of fun playing the role of Edmond Bancroft, the arrogant and rather shady crime writer who feeds off of murder like an insatiable parasite.
The actual movie starring Michael Gough is likely to keep most viewers awake, even if the film is dated.
It has less to do with the murders and torture machines than the truly sick and twisted character of Edmond Bancroft, played by Gough.
The film isn't very remarkable, aside from Gough's performance, except as a peek beneath the surface of respectable English life in the Fifties.SPOILERS AHEAD: I don't know if anyone else has ever noticed this, or will agree with my theory, but I get a very strong and uncomfortable suggestion of an unhealthy homosexual relationship between Bancroft and the young man who assists him.
Michael Gough portrays murder novelist Edmond Bancroft who is obsessed with death and the act of killing in various methods especially.
Certain characters threaten Edmond's work so he makes plans to do away with them when their not expecting such as an antique store saleswoman for whom he buys merchandise from(she plans to blackmail him after spotting her name on a pair of "spike-lensed" binoculars that stabbed a woman's eyeballs to the very nerves killing her)or a doctor who, through both mental and physical examination, sees what Edmond is turning into(..or has already become).
But, the most major threat is Rick's secret lady-love, Angela(Shirley Anne Field).Horrors of the Black Museum has loads of potential, but seems to be devastingly marred by an abrupt ending.
He makes too many mistakes at the end which question his credibility to have gotten away with his twisted scheme for so long.I would suggest seeing it for several interesting death weaponry like the mini-guillotine or the aforementioned spiked-lensed binoculars, but Gough's delicious villainy is why I enjoyed it to a point.
A crime writer Edmond Bancroft is responsible for a series of gruesome murders of young women helped by his suggestible assistant Rick, the knowledge of which murders enhances his literary career and makes him taunt Scotland Yard with their supposed incompetence.
The ending is weak.It does however have the great Michael Gough who steals the film effortlessly as Bancroft.
Scotland Yard, led by Superintendent Graham (Geoffrey Keen), is baffled by a series of grisly murders perpetrated by a psychotic killer who uses weapons and methods similar to those on display in their own Black Museum.
The truth is that a successful but obsessive crime writer and journalist called Edward Bancroft (Michael Gough) is responsible for the killings.
From his own secret museum of various weapons and instruments of torture hidden in the basement of his house, Bancroft hypnotises his young assistant, Rick (Graham Curnow), with the use of drugs to commit the murders in order to provide him with material for his books and newspaper columns...Pretty gruesome in its day, Horrors Of The Black Museum paved the way for Anglo Amalgamated's other controversial and daring shockers like Peeping Tom and Circus Of Horrors (both 1960).
Shirley Ann Field and June Cunningham are wooden, but in a way that suits the mood of the film and adds to the fun and the fact that Geoffrey Keen, John Warwick and the veteran British actor Austin Trevor play it straight as the men from the Yard makes it even more so whilst providing a distinct contrast to them.
You see Bankcroft is the Proprietor of his pride and joy the "Black Museum" who showcases gruesome murders and the devises/weapons used in those killings which he doesn't show to the public.
To recent film audiences, Michael Gough is best known as Alfred, the Butler, in the first few of the "Batman" movie franchise.
In this film, he's the proprietor of a private museum of terrors, and when a series of gruesome slaughters begin to plague London, Scotland Yard goes to see him, not as a suspect, but to aide them in their quest to find the maniacal killer, because of his knowledge of the type of tortures used to knock off the victims.The killings themselves are done very subtly, but indicate the gruesome ways in which people are killed.
"Horrors of the Black Museum" is a reasonably enjoyable film, though some other films with similar styles of wild murders are certainly a lot more enjoyable such as "Theatre of Blood" and the Dr. Phibes films.
There are also a few times where the script could have used a bit of a polish.Michael Gough plays a nasty writer who is creating a museum of crime.
It stars Michael Gough, June Cunningham, Graham Curnow, Shirley Anne Field, Geoffrey Keen and Gerald Anderson.
Thriller writer Edmond Bancroft (Gough) has his own private black museum modelled on the one at Scotland Yard.
Bitter, haughty, and cynical crippled crime journalist Edmond Bancroft (essayed with tremendous lip-smacking fiendish gusto by Michael Gough) commits a series of gruesome murders in order to create material for his writing and runs a museum showcasing the devices he uses for his heinous misdeeds.
You can only visit the real 'Black Museum' (now based at New Scotland Yard) by invitation so you may have to make do with visiting this version of the 'Black Museum' put together by crime writer Edmond Bancroft (played by Michael Gough) which is a third rate approximation of the real thing.
I enjoy a lurid British thriller when I can find one, but sadly "Horrors of the Black Museum" is not an effective example of one.
I was hoping for something similar to "Circus of Horrors" which is from a very similar period, but that film is altogether more grisly and entertaining than this one.The plot sees a string or murders in London, all employing elaborate killing techniques.
A famous author of true-life crime (Michael Gough) seems particularly interested in the murders, and although he regularly helps the police...is he actually the killer?
The best murder in the story (from a pair of deadly binoculars) appears in the first 5 minutes, which actually does the film a disservice as it's not equalled or bettered by anything else that happens.
The rest of the plot does see more murders, but in typical British fashion, they all take place off screen, or just tastefully masked out of shot, which makes things pretty dull for a supposed "horror movie".
Michael Gough is OK, but Graham Curnow is terrible as his assistant, and Shirley Ann Field is wooden beyond belief.
Horrors Of The Black Museum is, for its time, a notably unpleasant chiller in which a demented serial killer does away with a number of London women in various gruesomely imaginative ways.
Good film it ain't – the stretches between the murder set pieces are extremely stodgy and dull – but it remains more-or-less watchable thanks to a few interesting touches, more of which will be said later.Superintendent Graham (Geoffrey Keen) of Scotland Yard is trying desperately to solve a series of bizarre and violent lady killings in London.
Horrors Of The Black Museum is generally a misfire - albeit a misfire with occasional points of interests - and is just about worth a look for Gough's maniacal and energetic lead performance..
Horrors of the Black Museum is set in London & starts as woman receives a parcel in the post & opens it to find a pair of binoculars, intrigued she puts them to her eye's to look through & two large spikes shoot out puncturing her eye's & brain.
She has become the latest victim of a crazed & sadistic killer who is targeting young women in London, a series of bizarre & senseless murders have left the police baffled & crime writer Edmond Brancroft (Michael Gough) criticizing them at every opportunity he gets in his books & newspaper columns.
Each murder seems to use some macabre item of evil from Scotland Yard's notorious Black Museum of crime & punishment but only a select few have access to it, as the net closes in on the killer can the police prevent yet another death...This British production was directed by Arthur Crabtree who had previously made the sci-fi horror film Fiend Without a Face (1958) the year before, while Horrors of the Black Museum is a little dated when viewed today it's still a fairly entertaining film with a few nice moments.
Shot in full 2:35:1 widescreen the bright colours & late 50's setting give Horrors of the Black Museum a nice lurid & sometimes garish look.Filmed in London this probably had a low budget but it makes the most of it.
The acting varies, most of the performances are poor except for Michael Gough who gives a none too subtle acting performance here & shout's & exaggerates & pulls faces whenever he can.Horrors of the Black Museum isn't a classic by any means but it's entertaining enough for what it is, the novelty kills are quite cool & the bright colourful look of the film gives it a certain lurid appeal.