THE CORPSE VANISHES (1942) Bela Lugosi, Luana Walters & Tristram Coffin | Horror | B&W | Cinema Gem

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The Corpse Vanishes is a 1942 American mystery horror film starring Bela Lugosi, directed by Wallace Fox, and written by Harvey Gates. Lugosi portrays a mad scientist who injects his aging wife (played by Elizabeth Russell) with fluids from virginal young brides in order to preserve her beauty. Luana Walters as a journalist and Tristram Coffin as a small-town doctor investigate and solve the disappearances of the brides. The film was produced and distributed by Monogram Pictures, and was reissued in 1949 by Favorite Films Corporation.

Synopsis
Dr. Lorenz, a mad scientist, wants to keep his elderly wife young. He does this by kidnapping young females and extracting fluid from them. He then injects this fluid into his wife. On Alice Wentworth's wedding day, mad scientist Dr. Lorenz sends her an unusual orchid that induces a death-like state. He takes her body to his basement lab to extract glandular fluid for his aging wife, Countess Lorenz, in a bid to restore her youth. This is part of a series of mysterious bride disappearances that leave the police baffled.

Young journalist Patricia Hunter investigates and discovers Lorenz's connection to the orchid. She visits his mansion, meets his cold wife, and is trapped overnight due to a storm. In the cellar, she finds a crazed woman named Fagah and her two sons, who help Lorenz with his grim activities, including storing the bodies of his victims.

A neighboring doctor staying at the mansion learns of Patricia's investigation and agrees to assist her. They plan to trap Lorenz with a staged wedding, but he captures Patricia instead. During his escape, one of Fagah's sons is shot by the police. In a final confrontation, Fagah stabs Lorenz, but he kills her before collapsing. She also fatally wounds the Countess before dying. The police, guided by the doctor, rescue Patricia from the mansion.

Cast & Crew
Bela Lugosi as Dr. Lorenz
Luana Walters as Patricia Hunter
Tristram Coffin as Dr. Foster
Elizabeth Russell as Countess Lorenz
Minerva Urecal as Fagah
Angelo Rossitto as Toby
Frank Moran as Angel
Vince Barnett as Sandy
Kenneth Harlan as Editor Keenan
George Eldredge as Mike
Joan Barclay as Alice Wentworth
Gwen Kenyon as Peggy

Directed by: Wallace Fox
Written by Screenplay: Harvey Gates Story: Sam Robins & Gerald Schnitzer
Produced by: Sam Katzman & Jack Dietz
Cinematography: Arthur Reed
Edited by: Robert Golden
Music by: Johnny Lange & Lew Porter
Production company: Banner Productions
Distributed by: Monogram Pictures Corporation
Release date: May 8, 1942
Running time: 64 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English