A masked criminal who dresses like a giant bat terrorizes the guests at an old house rented by a mystery writer.
This film amazing visuals, very much in a "German expressionism" style, with sets that call to mind other great silent films, including "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" and "Metropolis". Director Roland West was a silent film master, and this may be the finest production he was ever involved with.
Just as "The Man Who Laughs" inspired the Joker, one cannot help but assume this was the inspiration for Batman. A man in a bat suit who comes out at night and glides along the rooftops? There are a great many differences, of course, but the similarities are just too strong to ignore.
This film is a must-see. Although remade with sound as "The Bat Whispers" (1930) and later remade again with Vincent Price, this original is well worth tracking down. (If nowhere else, it is free from the Internet Archive.)
This film amazing visuals, very much in a "German expressionism" style, with sets that call to mind other great silent films, including "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" and "Metropolis". Director Roland West was a silent film master, and this may be the finest production he was ever involved with.
Just as "The Man Who Laughs" inspired the Joker, one cannot help but assume this was the inspiration for Batman. A man in a bat suit who comes out at night and glides along the rooftops? There are a great many differences, of course, but the similarities are just too strong to ignore.
This film is a must-see. Although remade with sound as "The Bat Whispers" (1930) and later remade again with Vincent Price, this original is well worth tracking down. (If nowhere else, it is free from the Internet Archive.)