Marilyn Knowlden was a sweet and exquisite child actress who played sweet and exquisite children (Little Cosette in "Les Miserables" (1934), Frances in "The Conquerors' (1932), Kim in "Show Boat" (1936) and Princess Therese in "Marie Antoinette" (1938) among others). "Condemned to Live" was one of her very few budget films but she was in good company. Ralph Morgan was always a good character actor, excelling in quirky villain roles until he became better known as Frank Morgan's older brother.
He plays Professor Paul Kristan who, along with his apelike assistant, Zan (Mischa Auer) is called to a cave in his village to examine a man that has been killed by a bat. He is engaged to marry Marguerite (Maxine Doyle) who although she doesn't love him, worships him as a village hero. Unbeknownst to the village the professor is really a vampire!!! Paul's mother was bitten by a vampire bat and so Paul carries the curse. He kills his victims and then leaves them to be found in the cave.
The village believe the killer to be a bat, but David (Russell Gleason) who is in love with Marguerite thinks a human is responsible. When Marguerite's maid is found dead, suspicion turns to Zan, who always seems to be around. Paul realises he is the "fiend" but when he finds himself alone with Marguerite, like a fool she somehow manages to blow out all the candles. He then attacks her but Zan bursts through the windows and saves her. The villagers, thinking Zan is the fiend chase him to the cave until David catches up with them and tells them it is really the beloved Professor.
With a plot borrowing heavily from "Frankenstein" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", it is an interesting film. There is even a little Maria, a village child played by Marilyn Knowlden.
Recommended.
He plays Professor Paul Kristan who, along with his apelike assistant, Zan (Mischa Auer) is called to a cave in his village to examine a man that has been killed by a bat. He is engaged to marry Marguerite (Maxine Doyle) who although she doesn't love him, worships him as a village hero. Unbeknownst to the village the professor is really a vampire!!! Paul's mother was bitten by a vampire bat and so Paul carries the curse. He kills his victims and then leaves them to be found in the cave.
The village believe the killer to be a bat, but David (Russell Gleason) who is in love with Marguerite thinks a human is responsible. When Marguerite's maid is found dead, suspicion turns to Zan, who always seems to be around. Paul realises he is the "fiend" but when he finds himself alone with Marguerite, like a fool she somehow manages to blow out all the candles. He then attacks her but Zan bursts through the windows and saves her. The villagers, thinking Zan is the fiend chase him to the cave until David catches up with them and tells them it is really the beloved Professor.
With a plot borrowing heavily from "Frankenstein" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", it is an interesting film. There is even a little Maria, a village child played by Marilyn Knowlden.
Recommended.