The Bottom Line: THE BAT might just be a classic, but it's not a horror movie. But if we were reviewing CLASSIC MYSTERIES, this would be one of the best.
Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.
What would you do for a million dollars? That’s the question asked by the 1959 movie THE BAT. Bank president and founder John Fleming has embezzled a million dollars from his bank. While away on a hunting trip he reveals his secret to his friend and physician Dr. Wells. If they can secure not only a suspect, but a body as well, they can pin the robbery on someone else and Fleming can fake his death and make off with half the loot. The other half will be Wells’ as payment for his assistance. However, Fleming revealed his cards too soon, telling Wells where the money was hidden. It’s no surprise he doesn’t make it back from the trip.
Meanwhile, mystery writer Cornelia van Gorder is staying in Flemings’ family estate, leased by his nephew Mark. And the news is reporting the return of a killer in town known as The Bat, a faceless man known for killing women by ripping their throats out with steel claws. Awesome.
The hubbub about town centers around finding the missing millions (Fleming’s head cashier at the bank has been framed for it), which van Gorder and company are sure is hidden somewhere in the mansion. But every time they get close to discovering it, The Bat shows up and someone dies. Suspects as to The Bat’s identity are rampant in this movie and you just never know who to trust. Of course, van Gorder and friends (her maid Lizzie, Dale Bailey--her husband Victor is the man accused of stealing the money--, and Dale--Darla Hood of The Little Rascals in her final performance--. . . I’m not sure who Dale was, she just appeared) trust every man on the scene, certain HE can’t be The Bat.
But according the rules of the mystery, the villain must be introduced in the beginning, so we know we’ve already met him, even if we don’t know who he is.
THE BAT was a bit complicated at times, with so many different characters and we’re never really sure just what they’re thinking (when they know The Bat has tried to break into the house that very night, van Gorder and Lizzie go to bed, certain the police will patrol for any strangers outside on the grounds), or why, if there is suspicion being thrown on any of the men, they keep inviting them back.
One suspect is van Gorder’s butler Warner whom the police chief, Lt. Anderson, recognizes from an out of town case, and there are plenty of instances to suspect him, but he’s still one of the first called on for help when something happens. Another suspect is Dr. Wells--probably the biggest suspect because we know he killed Fleming, plus he’s played by Vincent Price, and that never helps allay suspicion. However, if you’re really paying close attention, you’ll realize The Bat’s true identity about halfway through.
I actually enjoyed this movie which surprises me considering I thought the script was horrible:
Judy Hollander: What's that noise?
Dale Bailey: I don't know, I kind of fell half asleep, for a moment I thought it was something from a dream.
Judy Hollander: It's somewhere in the house!
Dale Bailey: Yes on a floor above, not directly over us, probably in a room overlooking the driveway.
and the plot is confusing as hell sometimes, but the performances of two of the stars really made it all worth it. Price, obviously, was great as the possible suspect but definite murdering doctor, but for me it was Agnes Moorehead who stole the movie. From my years of watching her as Endora on BEWITCHED, I wasn’t expecting much when I learned she was the star, Cornelia van Gorder, but Moorehead, unbeknownst to me, was a much better actress than old reruns ever let on.
There was a naturalness she brought to the role that, if not for the rotten dialogue they had to utter, would have completely erased any signs she was acting. She really seemed to inhabit the role and van Gorder wasn’t a character in a movie, she was a real person. I’m very interested, now, in seeing more of Moorehead’s non-BEWITCHED work.
I would like to give this movie 4 stars stemming from an A for effort and the performances of those two stars. I would like to. However, I’m afraid the most it earns is 3. For one, it’s just not a horror movie, it’s a mystery. And the actions of the characters were just so mind numbingly ridiculous, especially when they knew The Bat was in the house--I mean unforgivably ridiculous--that it diminishes the enjoyment a full star. Also, the dialogue, again . . . Good Lord people just don’t talk like this. For the first twenty minutes, every line of dialogue contained exposition. I was talking to Jim Bob, the head investment banker for Big Time Investments, and he told me that Billy Joe, the local reporter for the Small Town News heard from John Smith, the foreman down at the Big City Steel Mill, that they might be closing. He was telling this story while they all shared a beer at Norty’s, the local bar. This could be the fault of Avery Hopwood and/or Mary Roberts Rinehart, writers of the novel on which the play on which the movie was based, or it could be the fault of director Crane Wilbur, who also did the screenplay. Whoever’s responsible, they need to never write dialogue again.
But still, there’s Price and Moorehead, and they both shone in this movie. If it had been either an honest horror movie or hadn’t been so badly written, THE BAT would be an easy 4 stars. I guess 3 stars aren’t too bad, either, considering how many truly bad movies have been discussed in this series. They’ll live. I do recommend it.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.