The Black Sleep
"The Terror Drug That Wakes the Dead!"
Originally released in 1956. The Black Sleep is a horror/science fiction film. directed by Reginald Le Borg. At just 82 minutes, it's a tight, focused story.
Starring Basil Rathbone, Herbert Rudley, and Patricia Blair
Synopsis
In 19th century England, a noted brain surgeon rescues a former student from being hanged on a false conviction for murder, and spirits him away to an ancient, repurposed abbey far in the countryside. There, he connives his pupil into assisting him in mapping the functions of the various parts of the human brain, using living subjects who are under a terrible animation-suspending drug called "black sleep". Subsequently, the student, along with the daughter of one of the subjects, discover that most of these subjects have survived but are being kept in a dungeon-like cellar, in various stages of physical and mental derangement...
Quick Facts
Release Date
June 15, 1956
69 years ago
Runtime
1h 22m
82 minutes total
User Rating
6.1/10
Good (46 votes)
Budget
$225K
Production budget
Language
English
Original language
Country
United States of America
Production
Director
Top Cast
Basil Rathbone
as Sir Joel Cadman
Herbert Rudley
as Dr. Gordon Ramsay
Patricia Blair
as Laurie Munroe
Akim Tamiroff
as Odo the Gypsy
Phyllis Stanley
as Daphne
Lon Chaney Jr.
as Dr. Munroe, aka Mungo
Bela Lugosi
as Casimir
John Carradine
as Bohemund
George Sawaya
as Sailor-Subject
Tor Johnson
as Mr. Curry
Production Details
- Status
- Released
- Original Language
- EN
- Budget
- $225,000
Production Companies
- Bel-Air Productions
- United Artists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Black Sleep about?
In 19th century England, a noted brain surgeon rescues a former student from being hanged on a false conviction for murder, and spirits him away to an ancient, repurposed abbey far in the countrysi...
Who directed The Black Sleep?
The Black Sleep was directed by Reginald Le Borg.
How long is The Black Sleep?
The Black Sleep has a runtime of 1 hours and 22 minutes (82 minutes total).
When was The Black Sleep released?
The Black Sleep was released on June 15, 1956 in theaters.
Who are the main actors in The Black Sleep?
The main cast of The Black Sleep includes Basil Rathbone, Herbert Rudley, Patricia Blair, Akim Tamiroff, Phyllis Stanley.