The Dark Eyes of London (1939) *** (out of 4) Det. Larry Holt (Hugh Williams) is investigated the bizarre "suicides" of several people who seem to have drowned themselves in the Thames. Most people think suicide but the detective believes something more sinister is going on and everything points to a home for blind people being run by Dr. Orloff (Bela Lugosi). Also known as THE HUMAN MONSTER, this British thriller will probably disappoint some expecting a straight horror film but if you go into it as a murder-mystery with horror elements then you should find yourself entertained. It's easy to see why Lugosi would want to go overseas and make this film and especially when you consider the type of mysteries that were being made in America. This here certainly separates itself from others because of its extremely dark atmosphere and rather bleak storyline. The Edgar Wallace story is a pretty strong one and it makes for an entertaining movie. The atmosphere is certainly extremely rich as the setting at the blind home is just the perfect location to match the mood of the picture. Another major plus is that the murders are a tad bit more sinister and graphic than what we'd typically see. This includes the brute of a killer with his deformed look and sinister moans. There's a scene where he's attacking the lead female character, which is quite thrilling even today as the use of shadows are perfectly executed and this was several years before the whole film noir movement. Williams gives a nice performance in the film as he gets a majority of the screen time and manages to carry the picture well. Greta Gynt is good as the girlfriend and Wilfred Walter is extremely effective as the monster. Then there's Lugosi who is certainly extremely good here. He perfectly captures the "good" character but when he switches it's also handled well by the actor. The entire "twist" in the story is pretty obvious today but I'm going to guess that those in 1939 were more caught off by it. With that said, if Lugosi had been able to use different voices and get past that thick accent (dubbing is used here) then it's clear he could have done so much more. THE DARK EYES OF London has some flaws including a few pacing issues and some ill-advised comedy but there's still plenty to enjoy here.

Here, Lugosi plays an insurance underwriter using blind men from a nearby sanitarium to commit murders of the recently insured- with Lugosi the beneficiary and the bodies unceremoniously dumped into the Thames River in attempt make them look like drownings. Scenes of the blind men sulking around the place, effectively filmed in high contrast black-and-white, with only ambient noises are creepy enough, and their subsequent emotionless and remorseless killings are even more chilling. Lugosi is menacing and threatening as ever here, using the blind men as murder weapons (he also has a memorable, and for his character, appropriate, death in the Thames River) Good work also from the surprisingly serious cop on the case who ultimately solves the mystery. The film also benefits from mercifully avoiding the comic relief of having a bumbling nitwit cop/ news reporter, so prevalent in many of these old B-horrors.

This was one of three films Bela Lugosi came to Britain to make, the others being Mystery Of The Mary Celeste (known in the US as The Phantom Ship) and the dreadful Mother Riley Meets The Vampire (AKA My Son The Vampire). Bela apparently enjoyed making Mary Celeste and Dark Eyes as he was much better paid than usual and treated with respect. This movie finds Lugosi at the top of his game, and it contains a few genuine creeps.Based on a story by Edgar Wallace, the plot concerns a police investigation into bodies turning up in the Thames. Shades of Murders In The Rue Morgue where Bela dumped his used corpses in the Seine! He plays the head of an insurance company cashing in on his customers by bumping 'em off and collecting the dosh! He also has links to an institute for the blind, which he uses as a front for his criminal organisation.The blind, brutish killer Lugosi uses to murder his victims is a little too similar to Karloff's monster in Frankenstein, with a make-up job that is over the top. But he's menacing for all that and there are a few echoes of Karloff in The Old Dark House as well, driven to grief-stricken madness when he realises his boss has drowned his best friend. Not a wise move on Lugosi's part!To summarise this a taut and effective thriller - an early British horror classic - years before Hammer films came along and cornered the market. Don't expect a camp Lugosi flick in the vein of Devil Bat, though. This is put across with sober conviction.

"The Dark Eyes of London" (aka "The Human Monster) is a creepy little thriller made in England, based on an Edgar Wallace story. For star Bela Lugosi, it was a cut above the many poverty row "thrillers" that he made during this period. The English, even in a low budget film such as this, really know how to make a mystery.Dr. Fedor Orloff (Lugosi) is running an elaborate insurance fraud scheme wherein he collects on the insurance policies of men, who have no relatives. He lends them money and has them sign over their policies as collateral after which he has them murdered. After Henry Stuart (Gerald Pring) signs over his policy in return for a loan, Orloff learns that he has a long lost daughter Diana (Greta Gynt) which causes him some complications.Orloff uses a home for needy blind men as a front for his murders. The home is run by Professor Dearborn (Lugosi again) a kindly white haired old gentleman. When Stuart's body washes up on the Thames, Diana demands that the police take action. Detective Inspector Larry Holt (Hugh Williams) is assigned to the case. He is assisted by American Irish Detective O'Reilly (Edmon Ryan) who is in London to learn the ways of Scotland Yard.Orloff has plans for Diana and as Dearborn, hires her as an assistant. Diana soon learns the evil ways of Orloff but is captured and held. Orloff orders the brutish Jake (Wilfred Walker) to do the evil deed but...................................................Lugosi manages to turn in a pretty good performance in his dual role. I guess the idea was not to be able to recognize him as the kindly old Prof. Dearborn but in spite of having his voice dubbed by O.B. Clarence and giving him white hair and a mustache, you can still spot that tell tale dimple on his chin. Orloff's demise is a thrilling finale and is well done.