Phantom of the Rue Morgue Phantom of the Rue Morgue Phantom of the Rue Morgue is a 1954 feature film directed by Roy Del Ruth (known for directing "The Terror") and starring Karl Malden and Claude Dauphin. The film is an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue". Warner Bros. released 3D productions during the 1950s, including the big-budget "The Charge at Feather River" (1953). Following another western, "The Moonlighter" (1953), starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, the studio attempted to repeat the success they had with "House of Wax" the previous year. This movie was based on the
Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932 film) film was produced as a compensatory package for Lugosi and Florey, after both were dropped from 1931's "Frankenstein". Lugosi had originally been cast as Dr. Frankenstein, and the film was to be directed by Florey, who had been developing the coveted project. Lugosi was subsequently demoted to play the mute monster, however, which he claimed to have turned down. Florey was replaced as director by James Whale, as producer Carl Laemmle was both unsatisfied with Florey's work on the project, and had given Whale first choice of any Universal property at the time. The box office results for "Murders in