Black Cat, The (1934)

[bunniefuu]

"Mr. and Mrs. Alison,
Car 96, Compartment 'F'

Orient Express,
Budapest, Visegrad. "

Darling!

Peter.

Aren't you hungry?

No, darling.

Are you?

No, of course not.

Are you sure?

I'm starved.

So am I.

I didn't eat a bite
at luncheon.

Well, neither did I.

Whoever eats anything
at a wedding luncheon?

They make the food
out of papier-mâché.

My salad had been used
four or five times this week.

Shall we dine in,
Mrs. Alison?

You mean here
in the compartment?

Yeah.

Elegant.

Excuse me, sir, lady.

A terrible mistake
has occurred.

They have sold space
in your compartment

to a gentleman.

It is terrible.

Well?

You are going
only to Visegrad

which we reach at 2:00.

Might you, perhaps,
make room for this gentleman?

Do please forgive
this intrusion.

It is not necessary
to make it so important.

You need not disturb
these people.

I can make myself quite
comfortable in the passageway.

Oh.

Oh, we are only going
as far as Visegrad.

You're entirely welcome to share
this compartment if you wish.

Very kind.
Thank you.

Sorry.

That's all right.

Thank you.

Sorry I frightened you,
darling.

It is, after all,

better to be frightened
than to be crushed.

Well, I'm Peter Alison.
this is Mrs. Alison.

Oh, it is
a very great pleasure.

I'm Dr. Vitus Werdegast.

So you are going to Visegrad?

Yes, and to Gömbös by bus.

Gömbös is very beautiful.

I, too, am going
very near there.

For the sport?

Perhaps.

I go to visit an old friend.

May I?

Certainly.

I beg your indulgence,
my friend.

18 years ago, I left a girl

so like your lovely wife

to go to w*r.

For Kaiser and country,
you know.

She was my wife.

Have you ever heard
of Kurgaal?

It is a prison below Amsk
on Lake Baikal.

Many men have gone there.

Few have returned.

I have returned.

After 15 years

I have returned.

Go ahead.
My servant is coming.

Take me to
Engineer Poelzig's house.

It is too bad about the rain.

It's very unusual.

This road was built
by the Austrian Army.

All of this country

was one of the greatest
battlefields of the w*r.

Tens of thousands
of men died here.

The ravine down there

was piled 12 deep
with dead and wounded men.

The little river below
was swollen red,

a raging torrent of blood.

That high hill yonder

where Engineer Poelzig
now lives,

was the site
of Fort Marmorus.

He built his home
on its very foundation.

Marmorus, the greatest
graveyard in the world.

The driver is dead.

Engineer Poelzig?

Herr Poelzig has retired.

Engineer Poelzig
will be expecting me.

I'm Dr. Werdegast.

We've had a bad accident.

Awaken Herr Poelzig at once
and take us somewhere

where I can dress
the lady's injury.

A man was k*lled.

Telephone the gendarmerie
at Visegrad and inform them.

Dr. Werdegast has arrived.

There is no need to worry.

I'm sure that after
a good night's sleep,

she will be quite all right.

It has been
a long time, Hjalmar.

The years
have been kind to you.

An accident
on the road below.

We are all very fortunate
to be alive.

Mr. and Mrs. Alison
are going to Gömbös.

Mrs. Alison
is slightly injured.

I took the liberty
of bringing them here.

Of course.

She will sleep now.

You sold Marmorus
to the Russians.

Scurried away in the night
and left us to die.

Is it to be wondered at that
you should choose this place

to build your house?

A masterpiece of construction

built upon the ruins

of the masterpiece
of destruction.

The masterpiece of m*rder.

The m*rder*r of 10,000 men

returns to the place
of his crime.

Those who died
were fortunate.

I was taken a prisoner
to Kurgaal.

Kurgaal

where the soul
is k*lled slowly.

Fifteen years I've rotted
in the darkness.

Waited.

Not to k*ll you,

to k*ll your soul slowly.

Where is my wife
Karen and my daughter?

Karen?

Well, what do you mean?

I mean you told Karen
I had been k*lled.

I found out that much
in Budapest.

I mean you always wanted her.

In the days at Salzburg,
before the w*r, always,

from the first time
you saw her.

I mean that after
you saved your own hide

and left us all
to die in Marmorus

you went to Karen

and induced her to go
to America with you.

I traced the two of you there

and to Spain
and to South America

and finally here.

Where is she?

Vitus, you are mad.

Where is she?

Sorry if I'm intruding.

Not at all.

Do come in,

we were just going
to have something to drink.

Now perhaps
you will join us?

And what would you like?

Oh, uh, whiskey.

Whiskey.

This is a very
interesting house

you have here, Poelzig.

Has an atmosphere,
kind of, uh...

It is indeed
hard to describe.

As hard to describe
as life or, or death.

It may well be
an atmosphere of death.

This place was built
on the ruins

of that same Fort Marmorus

that our unfortunate friend,

the driver,
described so vividly.

Herr Poelzig
commanded Marmorus

during the last years
of the w*r.

He is perhaps sentimental
about this spot.

And as for the house
being interesting

an architectural
chef-d'oeuvre,

it could not be otherwise.

Engineer Poelzig is one
of Austria's

greatest architects.

Dr. Werdegast
is one of Hungary's

greatest psychiatrists.

Allow me to
introduce myself more fully.

I'm Peter Alison,

one of America's
greatest writers

of unimportant books.

Oh, you are an author,
a novelist?

Uh, what kind of things
do you do?

Mysteries.

To you, my friend,

to your charming wife,
and to love.

Are you all right, Joan?

I thought you were asleep.

You are frightened, Doctor?

You are our host.

At your service, madame.

You must be indulgent
to Dr. Werdegast's weakness.

He is the unfortunate victim

of one of
the commoner phobias

but in an extreme form.

He has an intense

and all-consuming horror
of cats.

Come, darling,
you must go back to bed.

You're not strong enough.

He is quite right.
You had a severe shock.

You must sleep.

Good night, gentlemen.

Joan.

Forgive my presumption

but I must emphasize
the extreme importance

of Mrs. Alison
having complete quiet sleep.

I gave her
a very powerful narcotic,

I'm sure
it will be effective soon.

Her condition is not
sufficiently serious

to be cause for alarm

but it is decidedly delicate.

Rest is the important thing.

What curious changes
it made in her.

You must have noticed it?

It is perhaps the narcotic.

Hyoscine affects
certain people very oddly.

One cannot be sure.

Sometimes these cases
take strange forms.

The victim becomes,
in a sense, mediumistic

a vehicle for all

the intangible forces
in operation around her.

It sounds like a lot of
supernatural baloney to me.

Supernatural, perhaps.

Baloney, perhaps not.

There are many things
under the sun.

I shall show you your rooms.

Strange about the cat.

Joan seemed
so curiously affected

when you k*lled it.

That was coincidence,
I think.

However,

certain ancient books say

that the black cat

is the living embodiment
of evil.

At death that evil enters
into the nearest living thing.

It is-

The black cat does not die.

Those same books,
if I am not mistaken

teach that the black cat
is deathless.

Deathless as evil.

It is the origin of
the common superstition

of the cat with nine lives.

You will sleep here, Vitus.

Thank you.

Good night.

Good night, gentlemen.

Good night, Vitus.

Sleep well.

An extremely interesting
and capable man.

Yes.

I hope you
will be comfortable.

Thank you.

My room adjoins
Mrs. Alison's.

You would like
to be near her?

Yes. Thank you.

Do you mind
if I keep this door open?

I'd sleep in a cold sweat
if you didn't.

You know,

this is a very tricky house.

Kind of place where I like
to have company.

So this guy Poelzig
is a great architect?

Yes.

One of the greatest.

Well, I suppose we've got
to have architects, too.

If I wanted to build

a nice, cozy,
unpretentious insane asylum,

he'd be the man for it.

You think Mrs. Alison
will be well enough

to go on to Gömbös
in the morning?

I think so.

That will be swell.

Now, Vitus,

we have something
to settle, we two.

You were seeking me, Hjalmar?

I beg your pardon.

Where is my wife?

Very well, Vitus.

I shall take you to her.

Next time I go
to Niagara Falls.

You will come alone, Vitus.

Wait here.

And this was the entrance
to the g*n turrets.

Don't you recognize it?

I can still sense
death in the air.

There is still
death in the air.

It is just as much
undermined today as ever.

And this is
the old chart room

for the long-range g*ns.

The g*ns are gone,

but the charts
are still here.

Now you see, Vitus,

I have cared for her
tenderly and well.

You will find her
almost as beautiful

as when you last saw her.

She died

two years after the w*r.

How?

Of pneumonia.

She was never very strong,
you know.

A- and the child,
our daughter?

Dead.

And why is she...

Why is she like this?

Is she not beautiful?

I wanted to have
her beauty always.

I loved her, too, Vitus.

Lies.

All lies, Hjalmar.

You k*lled her.

You k*lled her
as I am about to k*ll you!

Come, Vitus.

Are we men
or are we children?

Of what use are all these
melodramatic gestures?

You say your soul was k*lled,

that you have been dead
all these years.

And what of me?

Did we not both
die here in Marmorus

15 years ago?

Are we any the less
victims of the w*r

than those whose bodies
were torn asunder?

Are we not both
the living dead?

And now you come to me

playing at being
an avenging angel

childishly thirsting
for my blood.

We understand
each other too well.

We know too much of life.

We shall play
a little game, Vitus.

A game of death, if you like.

But under any circumstances

we shall have to wait
until these people have gone.

Until we are alone.

Until tomorrow.

What is it, Hjalmar?

Oh, it's nothing.

Only an accident
on the road below.

I want you to stay
in this room

all day tomorrow, Karen.

You are the very core
and meaning of my life.

No one shall
take you from me,

not even Vitus,

not even your father.

Not yet, Thamal.

Put that away.

We will bide our time.

Other lives are involved.

This place is
so undermined with dynamite

that the slightest mistake
by one of us

could cause
the destruction of all.

Until I tell you different,

you are his servant,
not mine.

Peter?

Good morning.

Have you slept well?

I must examine the dressing.

Dressing?

I don't remember.

The bus.

We were in the bus
and we fell...

I don't remember
anything after that.

You don't?

Where is Peter?
Is he all right?

He is not in his room.

He is perhaps at breakfast.

Will you sit down?

What happened, Doctor?
What is this place?

This is the home of my
friend, Herr Poelzig.

You will forgive
this intrusion?

I came to enquire

after the health
of my charming guest.

This is Engineer Poelzig,
our host.

Where is Peter,
uh, Mr. Alison?

I think he is breakfasting.

I'll send for him.

Are you worried, Vitus?

About myself? No.

The girl?

Perhaps.

Oh.

You are interested?

Maybe.

I thought so.

Well, I'm not.
Only spiritually.

Spiritually?

Tonight is
the dark of the moon.

And we shall gather, and...

You'd better come, Vitus.

The ceremony
will interest you.

Don't pretend, Hjalmar.

There was nothing spiritual
in your eyes

when you looked at that girl.

You plan to keep her here.

Perhaps.

I intend to let her go.

Is that a challenge, Vitus?

Yes, if you dare
to fight it out alone.

Do you dare play chess
with me, for her?

Yes.

I will even play you
chess for her.

Provided if I win,

they are free to go.

You won't win, Vitus.

Hurt?

Not a bit.

What happened last night?

Did I do anything silly?

Silly?

How could you do anything
that wasn't entirely lovely?

Do you feel well enough
to leave, darling?

I'd feel well enough to leave

if I didn't feel
well enough to leave.

I don't like this place.

You don't like it.

You haven't had breakfast yet.

I don't like Mr. Pigslow,
or whatever his name is.

Poelzig.

Poelzig.

Hurry up and get dressed,
darling.

I'll explain everything
to Mr. Poelzig.

All right.

Come down when you're ready.

Mmm-hmm.

He wants to know our version
of the accident.

An American?

And, uh, will you tell me
about the accident, please?

Well, Mrs. Alison,
Dr. Werdegast and I were

on our way to Gömbös-

Gömbös? It is my home.

What a beautiful place.

What grandeur,
what charm.

You have chosen
very wisely, sir.

Gömbös is the pearl
of the Carpathian Mountains-

I beg your pardon, sir.

Gömbös,
it's very nice, in its way.

But it cannot compare
with Pisthyan.

Pisthyan is my home.

There is a place.

Sporty, if you want to sport.

Quiet, if you want quiet.

Gaiety, if you want gaiety.

Pisthyan is God's gift
to young lovers. It's-

Pisthyan used to be all right
10, 15 years ago, but now...

Gömbös is the place.

Sir, you are carrying
it a little bit too far.

How about the accident,
Lieutenant?

I think it was due
almost entirely to the rain.

Part of the road gave way,

the bus tipped over
and crashed. That's all.

Very well.
May I have your names?

Werdegast,
Dr. Vitus Werdegast.

Peter Alison.

You gentlemen
can be reached here?

Oh, uh, you've been very kind,
Herr Poelzig.

But Mrs. Alison and I must
get back down to Visegrad.

You see, Mrs. Alison must communicate
with her parents in Vienna.

May we ride back
with you to Visegrad?

I, uh, should be very happy
to accommodate you.

Unfortunately,

we of the gendarmerie
go about on bicycles.

It would be, uh,
very inconvenient for Madame.

I'm afraid it is impossible

to get a train out of Visegrad

until the express goes through
at 11:00 tonight.

I shall be most happy
to send you down then.

Thank you, gentlemen.

I should be very sorry
if I had inconvenienced you.

And I shall be
very sorry, too

if you do not decide
to go on to Gömbös.

Pisthyan.

Dr. Werdegast, I feel sure

that Mrs. Alison
is well enough to go on to-

I beg your pardon,
but do you play chess?

No.

I used to play
a very good hand of poker.

Well, if you don't mind,

I think we'll go on
with our game.

Please don't think
we don't appreciate

your hospitality,
Herr Poelzig.

Mrs. Alison is still
quite shaken up

from the accident, you know,

and feels she wants
to get back to Vienna.

Now, if you could
send us down to Visegrad,

I'm sure we could hire
a car there

that would take us
on to Budapest,

or at least far enough
to get a decent train.

But of course.

I shall be very sorry
to see you go

but if you and Mrs. Alison
think best, why...

I want you to take
Mr. and Mrs. Alison

down to Visegrad.

Now, you realize, of course,

that this is against
the advice of Dr. Werdegast.

And you will have to assume
the full responsibility.

Oh, but I'm quite sure
she'll be all right.

Then we will go on
with our game.

I'm sorry, sir,
the car is out of commission.

It will take some time
to repair it.

Oh, Mr. Alison.

You see, I-I use the car
so seldom myself.

I'm afraid you'll just have
to be patient.

Then may I use
your telephone?

I'll telephone
the hotel in Visegrad

and ask them to send a car.

Of course. Of course.

Take the gentleman
to the telephone.

Did you get the hotel?

No. The phone's dead.

Did you hear that, Vitus?

The phone is dead.

Even the phone is dead.

Come along, Joan,

we're getting
out of here, fast.

What happened?

Never mind, darling.

Just stay close to me
and don't say anything.

We're leaving, if we
have to walk to Visegrad.

Oh, never mind about the baggage.
We'll send for that later.

The main thing
is to go and go quickly.

Someone's taken my automatic.

Checkmate.

You lose, Vitus.

We are leaving.

Open the door.

I hope you won't
carry this too far, Hjalmar.

##

Child, I hope
you're not afraid of me?

Where is Peter?

What have you done with him?

I?

Surely you don't think I-

It was your servant
who struck him down.

Where is he?
Where is he?

Please, child,
listen to me.

We are all in danger.

Poelzig is a mad beast,
I know.

I know,
I have seen the proof.

He took Karen, my wife,

m*rder*d her

and m*rder*d my child.

And you let him live.

I await my time.
It shall be soon.

Very soon.

Until then,
I must do his bidding.

That is why
even my servant obeys him.

Did you ever
hear of Satanism,

the worship of the devil,
of evil?

Herr Poelzig is the
great modern priest

of that ancient cult

and tonight, dark of the moon,

the rites of Lucifer
are celebrated.

And if I am not mistaken,

he intends you to play
a part in that ritual.

A very important part.

Dear child, be brave

no matter how hopeless
it all seems.

Be brave.

It is your only chance.

Who are you?

I've never seen
you before, have I?

No, I-I don't think you have.

I am Karen, Madame Poelzig.

Karen? Not Karen Werdegast?

Yes, yes,
how did you know my name?

Well, I-I know your father.

Oh, no, you are mistaken.

My father died in prison.

Herr Poelzig
married my mother.

She died
when I was very young.

And he married you?
You're his wife?

Yes.

Karen, listen to me.
Your father is not dead.

I know, I know,
he's here in this very house.

He's come for you.

Karen, do you understand me?

Your father has come for you.

Don't, Hjalmar!

Please!

Dark of the moon.
'Tis the night.

We better hurry.

The guests will soon be here
for the ceremony.

##

Peter!

Please let me go! Please!

Don't! Don't!

Please! No! No!

Stop struggling,
little fool.

There is a way out.
Come, this way.

Peter, where did he go?

Never mind him.

But you will be dead soon
if you do not come quickly.

And Karen?

Karen is dead.

No, I mean Karen,
your daughter.

Madame Poelzig.

What do you mean?

She is alive,
here in this house.

She is Poelzig's wife.

Where is she?

Where is Karen,
my daughter?

Joan.

Joan.

Do you know what I am going
to do to you now?

No?

Did you ever see
an animal skinned, Hjalmar?

That's what I'm going
to do to you now.

Tear the skin
from your body,

slowly, bit by bit.

How does it feel to hang

on your own
embalming rack, Hjalmar?

No! No! No!

Joan!

The key. The key.

Let me help you.

Stand back, Werdegast.

Get away, Werdegast.

He wanted to help us.

You poor fool.

I only tried to help.

Now go. Please!

Go.

It's the red switch,
isn't it, Hjalmar?

The red switch
ignites the dynamite.

Five minutes.

Marmorus, you and I

and your rotten cult

will be no more.

It has been a good game.

Please stop!

Visegrad, Budapest.

Darling, here's a review
of Triple m*rder.

"In Triple m*rder,

"Mr. Alison's
latest mystery thriller

"he fulfills the promise
shown by

"The 69th Crime
and the Purple Spot.

"We feel, however, that
Mr. Alison has, in a sense,

"overstepped the bounds
on the matter of credibility.

"These things could never,

"by the furthest stretch of the
imagination, actually happen.

"We could wish
that Mr. Alison

"would confine himself
to the possible

instead of having his melodramatic
imagination run away with him. "