david manner and julie bishop ( bill a jacqueline well ) play two newlywed on vacation in hungary who make the acquaintance of genial doctor vitus verdegast ( bela lugosi ) . after an accident on the road and they end up accompany dr. verdegast to the mansion of hjalmar poelzig ( boris karloff ) and an architect with more than one secret to hide . the black cat be apparently base none too closely on the edgar allan poe poem and but have it own story and just use the poem for inspiration . the plot isn not much to speak of and with many of the revelation speak by verdegast . in fact and it such an economical and light on story little movie and direct capably by b movie veteran edgar g. ulmer and that it fly by and be over in just over an hour . it quite a departure from the gothic nightmare that be a number of the classic universal chiller . set in the present and a palpable feeling of what the heck be go on mystery hang over the proceeding and underscore by a nicely melodramatic music score . interesting set be also a bonus and as well a a climax involve a satanic mass and a torturous comeuppance for karloff . however and this be really all about see karloff and lugosi act together . karloff be a marvel of cagey and subtle villainy and and lugosi pretty likable in a rare good guy part . the other actor pretty much hold their own against the two lead and but it really karloff and lugosi show . i be strike by the great character face of support actor egon brecher and harry cording and and the beauty of lucille lund and all of which enhance my enjoyment of the film . it a fun little picture and good for a night view . positive .