The Ghoul (1933)
A rare appearance for the mighty Boris Karloff in a British horror film which he made during a short dispute with Universal Studios. Although it had echoes of the previous years Universal film The Mummy the links are only tenuous. Rather than searching for his long lost love, Karloff's Egyptologist returns from the grave to claim back a large jewel stolen from his resting place and kill all those responsible.
Whilst not up there with the best Universal horror films of the time this is still a worthwhile Gothic potboiler with atmosphere in spades and is certainly an improvement on Universal efforts like the previous years Murders in the Rue Morgue starring Bela Lugosi. This first British sound horror film is blessed with a cast worth repeating. Alongside Karloff we have Ernest Thesiger, Cedric Hardwicke, Kathleen Harrison and in his feature debut Ralph Richardson.
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