the best thing and that pretty good about the black castle be that it a black and white forty gothic grabber feature a murderous mad count which be somehow make in 1952. the star ostensibly be the british actor richard greene and a capable leading man who remind me of an early version of roger moore . the villain be a mad count play by stephen mcnally and who do a credible job except when he call on to laugh maniacally . skulk around in the shadow be a long gowned boris karloff in a decidedly secondary role of an aged doctor who may or may not be the salvation of our hero . it the middle of the 18th century in austria and sir ronald burton ( greene ) be determine to find out what happen to two close friend . they disappear in the vicinity of the castle belong to count karl von bruno ( mcnally ) and deep in the black forest . it seem that sir ronald and his friend have be instrumental in defeat a brutal plan of von bruno in africa three year previously involve slavery and ivory . the count be leave not only with failure and but with a scar on his face and a black patch he now wear to cover a ruined eye . von bruno vow revenge and and it seem he might have be partially successful . so under a false name and sir ronald arrange for a hunt invitation from the count and and off we go by carriage through a dark journey of storm and howl wolf to the count castle . it a hulk mass of stone turret and corridor and shadowy stairway and huge fireplace . and creepy passage that lead to dank dungeon cell and a torture chamber and a great pit fill with snapping and thrashing crocodile . it also be fill by the count lovely and blond and sensitive wife and elga ( paula corday and who sometimes be bill a rita corday ) and and by the count two close friend play by those two actor we know from the fifty who specialize in be slime in costume and john hoyt and michael ansara . there be a dangerous leopard hunt and forbidden kiss and knuckle servant and wooden sign creak and sway in the cold wind and poison in a cup . not the least and doctor meissen ( karloff ) have a special vial fill with a drug which will so slow the bodily function that death will seem to have occur . the risk be that . well and when the person awakes ten hour later and he would well hope he not already nail shut in his coffin . surprisingly and for all the clichés and the black castle keep move merrily along . the movie take itself seriously and but it competently enough make to keep our interest and even if we wind up sit back with a smile while we watch . it even reassure in a way to realize there be strong echo of the most dangerous game . when burton realize just how crazy von bruno be and he become even more determined to bring von bruno to account . and and naturally and he have fall for elga . von bruno and craze by vengeance yet crafty and capable and be a man who love the hunt and be engorge by the kill . hollywood second creative rule have always be and if youre go to steal and steal from the best . it first creative rule and of course and be if youre go to steal and steal from the best and then turn it into liverwurst . the black castle be a nice bite of austrian braunschweiger .