The Black Cat
“Things you never said before nor even dreamed of!”
Synopsis
After a road accident in Hungary, the American honeymooners Joan and Peter and the enigmatic Dr. Werdegast find refuge in the house of the famed architect Hjalmar Poelzig, who shares a dark past with the doctor.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
THREE EDGAR ALLAN POE ADAPTATIONS STARRING BELA LUGOSI (Masters of Cinema) Clips TrailerOfficial
Type: Featurette • Published 2020-05-13
Top Cast
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Boris Karloff
Hjalmar Poelzig
Bela Lugosi
Dr. Vitus Werdegast
David Manners
Peter Alison
Julie Bishop
Joan Alison
Egon Brecher
The Majordomo
Harry Cording
Thamal
Lucille Lund
Karen
Henry Armetta
The Sergeant
Albert Conti
The Lieutenant
John Carradine
Cult Organist
John George
Cultist (uncredited)
Albert Pollet
Waiter (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 7, 1934
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$96K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$236K
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.46x
+$140K net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Edgar G. Ulmer
- Screenplay & Story
- Peter Ruric, Tom Kilpatrick
- Original Score
- Heinz Roemheld
- Original Title
- The Black Cat
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- French, Hungarian, English, Latin
- Runtime
- 1h 5m
- Production Budget
- $96K
- Worldwide Gross
- $236K
- Production Studios
- Universal Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Edgar G. Ulmer
Peter Ruric, Tom Kilpatrick, Edgar G. Ulmer, Edgar Allan Poe
Heinz Roemheld
John J. Mescall
Ray Curtiss
Carl Laemmle Jr.
Department Leadership Roster
Edgar G. Ulmer
Director
John J. Mescall
Director of Photography
Peter Ruric
Screenplay
Carl Laemmle Jr.
Producer
Ray Curtiss
Editor
Edgar G. Ulmer
Costume Design
Tom Kilpatrick
Screenplay
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Black Cat.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Black Cat.
My Movies
Master List In Progress
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-19 07:37:48 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Black Cat
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Black Cat about?
After a road accident in Hungary, the American honeymooners Joan and Peter and the enigmatic Dr. Werdegast find refuge in the house of the famed architect Hjalmar Poelzig, who shares a dark past with the doctor.
Who directed The Black Cat?
The Black Cat was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer.
Who stars in The Black Cat?
The principal cast of The Black Cat includes Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Julie Bishop, Egon Brecher.
When was The Black Cat released and how long is it?
The Black Cat was released in 1934 with a total runtime of 1h 5m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Black Cat?
The Black Cat had a reported production budget of $96K and grossed $236K at the worldwide box office (2.46 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for The Black Cat?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Black Cat was composed by Heinz Roemheld.