First time of viewing The Bat holds up remarkably well for me. The opening scenes especially but also throughout the camera angles, zippy story and editing are quite modern in feel - no good thing in itself but make it easier to follow sometimes.
I watched this expecting to see "the granddaddy of haunted house mysteries". Well, I suppose it was, but the house was as big as an aerodrome meaning a different kind of atmosphere was generated, not like The Cat and the Canary etc at all. The sets are absolutely stupendous and remain in the imagination long after the film has finished. The darkness and brooding shadows help the rather stagy acting through some flatter bits. But why was Conrad Fleming skulking about on the roof?
The mysterious Bat (I'm fore-sworn to secrecy) looked a bit silly to me at first, but as his similarity to Donnie Darko's rabbit grew on me he looked more and more sinister and evil as the film progressed. I realise that this association was not West's intention but I can't help it now! It helped me anyway, so maybe it's best to watch DD first!
I'm definitely going to watch this one again after a decent interval!
I watched this expecting to see "the granddaddy of haunted house mysteries". Well, I suppose it was, but the house was as big as an aerodrome meaning a different kind of atmosphere was generated, not like The Cat and the Canary etc at all. The sets are absolutely stupendous and remain in the imagination long after the film has finished. The darkness and brooding shadows help the rather stagy acting through some flatter bits. But why was Conrad Fleming skulking about on the roof?
The mysterious Bat (I'm fore-sworn to secrecy) looked a bit silly to me at first, but as his similarity to Donnie Darko's rabbit grew on me he looked more and more sinister and evil as the film progressed. I realise that this association was not West's intention but I can't help it now! It helped me anyway, so maybe it's best to watch DD first!
I'm definitely going to watch this one again after a decent interval!