the black cat ( 1934 ) edgar ulmer be one of universal studio hope in 1934 and when this movie be their big hit of the season ( this be three year after the explosion of dracula and frankenstein ) . but he only make one other famous movie and the low budget detour and which be pretty amazing stuff . the rest of the time he do fringe film and low budget grunt work . which be a shame and because even here and at the start of his direct career and there be a wonderful flair for drama and set design and light and and effect . it be this last that might ruin his long term vision he put effect over substance and and even over logic . so you have to watch this for all the great visual and narrative flourish . even the black cat of the title be more of a symbolic punctuation point than anything that matter . woman will be kidnap and men trick and old enemy battle with wit and electric shock and and a cast of satanic worshipper will gather by the end . this actually make it sound wild than it be and but that the general idea . the hero and heroine be regular folk caught in the maelstrom of old europe and it cryptic wickedness and not that far from the two early breakthrough film . this one have no hook and though and no monster or vampire and just some demented people . at an hour and the movie be short and and even at that it move fast . watch for nice art deco touch . and most of all and see bela lugosi and boris karloff square off head to head . it not a masterpiece and but it totally worth watch if you like the early universal scary movie .