Oh how that poverty row studio Producers Releasing Corporation tried to rise above its low grade status and make films that could be top of the bill during the golden age of Hollywood. Unlike the Edward Small Monte Cristo films released for United Artists, PRC had smaller budgets and they were often filmed darkly with little attention detail paid towards the script. Their top films were about action, with production design quite above average for a PRC film but still not quite A list. There were few exceptions however, with the films of Edgar G. Ulmer among PRC's shining moments, films that are now considered minor classics. Ullmer had great successes with the John Carradine version of "Bluebeard" and the film nor cult classic "Detour", and for this loosely based follow up to the Monte Cristo films, he almost succeeds in making a fairly decent sequel.
The issue here is a very convoluted plot line, not quite focusing on the wife of Monte Cristo Lenore Aubert but splitting the focus between her, her imprisoned husband Martin Kosleck and evil count John Loder who has assumed Monte Cristo's throne of power. The period detail, setting this in the 1830s, seems fairly correct and it is handsome to look at. However the photography is often sometimes darkly shadowed and the prince aren't helpful in showing this looking its best. It does have a great cast of supporting actors, and is filled with action and fortunately absent of any unnecessary comedy. But as promising as it Sseems, the script is at fault for not giving a detailed and easy to follow structure, and often you're having to think back as to what you seen previously to try to put points together of where you are in the film when you realized how confused you are. It's a nice effort however and I do salute Ullmer for adding class to the otherwise Alpha and pathetic Z-grade Studio that was frequently referred to as pretty rotten cinema.
The issue here is a very convoluted plot line, not quite focusing on the wife of Monte Cristo Lenore Aubert but splitting the focus between her, her imprisoned husband Martin Kosleck and evil count John Loder who has assumed Monte Cristo's throne of power. The period detail, setting this in the 1830s, seems fairly correct and it is handsome to look at. However the photography is often sometimes darkly shadowed and the prince aren't helpful in showing this looking its best. It does have a great cast of supporting actors, and is filled with action and fortunately absent of any unnecessary comedy. But as promising as it Sseems, the script is at fault for not giving a detailed and easy to follow structure, and often you're having to think back as to what you seen previously to try to put points together of where you are in the film when you realized how confused you are. It's a nice effort however and I do salute Ullmer for adding class to the otherwise Alpha and pathetic Z-grade Studio that was frequently referred to as pretty rotten cinema.