Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932 film) from December 10, 1931 to December 19, 1931. It was filmed in a studio at Universal Studios in California. Its budget was approximately $190,000. Before the film's production, the director, Robert Florey, and lead actor Bela Lugosi, were set to adapt a film version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. However, with the arrival of young director James Whale, Florey was involuntarily removed from the project. As compensation, Florey was assigned to Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue instead, along with Bela Lugosi, who was originally cast as the Creature. In production, according to the history provided by the American Film Institute,
Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932 film) Morgue, "sends your thumping heart up into your throat!" Much praise is also given to cinematographer Karl W. Freund for giving the film a "German Expressionistic" look. A lot of the criticism arises from comparisons to other great horror films from the time period. A writer for the NY Times wrote, "The entire production suffers from an overzealous effort at terrorization, and the cast, inspired by the general hysteria, succumbs to the temptation to overact." A print is preserved in the Library of Congress collection. Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932 film) Murders in the Rue Morgue is a 1932