Overview

In 1840s London, Dr. Thomas Bolton [Boris Karloff] dares to dream the unthinkable: experimenting with anesthesia gases to make surgery pain-free. While doing so, his demonstration before a panel of his peers ends in a horrific mishap with his patient awakening under the knife; he is forced to leave his position in disgrace. To complicate matters, he becomes addicted to his own chemical experiments and gets involved with a criminal gang led by Black Ben [Francis de Wolff], and a ruthless killer Resurrection Joe [Christopher Lee]. Unfortunately, this shady partnership leads Dr. Bolton to further ruin, culminating in his unwitting participation in murder — for which he becomes the first victim of a blackmail scheme.

Cast

Boris Karloff

Dr. Thomas Bolton

Betta St. John

Susan

Christopher Lee

Resurrection Joe

Finlay Currie

Supt. Charles Matheson

Adrienne Corri

Rachel

Francis de Wolff

Black Ben

Francis Matthews

Jonathan Bolton

Frank Pettingell

Mr. Blount

Basil Dignam

Hospital Chairman

Nigel Green

Insp. Donovan

Yvonne Romain

Rosa (as Yvonne Warren)

H

Howard Lang

Chief Inspector

Charles Lloyd Pack

Hardcastle

Bernard Archard

Hospital Official

Marianne Stone

Arrested Woman (uncredited)

About the Movie