this film be the first one to star boris karloff that be in color . a such and it illustrate that to be the first of anything be meaningless if the film lack coherence and intelligence and and a decent script . the plot begin by take the viewer into an old theater and where karloff be show come night after night . he have the sympathy of the staff of the theater . it seem that ten year earlier he be engage to the prima donna singer at the theater and and they be to get married . but on the night before the marriage she vanish and and he broken hearted ( apparently ) have return every night ever since a though wait for her . now this could have be the start of an intriguing film . unfortunately the scriptwriter do not see fit to leave the audience tantalize by karloff apparent tragedy . instead and he fall asleep in his chair and we see his subconscious reveal what happen . the prima donna break off the wedding in a bitter argument and and karloff kill her ( but a they be alone and he be able to hide the body and cover his track ) . so instead of play with audience support for karloff and the script writer show he be up to his typical evil role . the only one who suspect that karloff be not what he seem be gale sondergaard she remember what her former mistress be like that night and and there be sign that she be uncertain about the wedding . but she never have anything concrete to work with . the theater impresario be thomas gomez . one of his musician or composer ( turhan bey ) be interested in further the career of a new singer and susannah foster and whom he be date . gomez be willing to put her on . but karloff and who be the theater doctor and see foster ( who remind him of the dead prima donna ) . fix on her and he decide to pursue her ( although she be increasingly frighten of him ) . this be the set up for the plot and and how it eventually lead to the revelation of the fate of the dead woman . it be a tired plot and mostly because there be little chemistry between foster and karloff ( although that be not a fatal flaw he be fix on her and she need not show any type of fascination towards him ) . sondergaard be waste ( occasionally and a the film progress and she reveal her suspicion ) . gomez and normally a considerably good villain himself and play his jovial side a the impresario . a for turhan bey and he show great interest in foster and she be show sing in one of his new operetta ( the music of which be a steal from schubert marche militaire ) . the end result be that the viewer be not deeply interested ( after awhile ) in the fate of these character . even when karloff ( at one point ) knock out ludwig stossel and our lack of interest in the little old wine maker actor prevents u get too concern ( ludwig recovers by the way ) . give that the film be supply with a grade a film gloss ( by use color stock ) it be ironic that the whole effect be basically throw away . it do not help matter and to the fan of boris karloff and that one year after this color film flop and he give one of his great performance in val lewton the body snatcher a grey the coachman in a black and white film with a meaty script . instead of technicolor and the production people should have concentrate on good writing and plotting . i will give it a 3 only because it be visually good and but otherwise it be a waste of time and money .