The Black Sleep
“The Terror Drug That Wakes the Dead!”
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...
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Black Sleep ≣ 1956 ≣ Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-05-10
Top Cast
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Basil Rathbone
Sir Joel Cadman
Herbert Rudley
Dr. Gordon Ramsay
Patricia Blair
Laurie Munroe
Akim Tamiroff
Odo the Gypsy
Phyllis Stanley
Daphne
Lon Chaney Jr.
Dr. Munroe, aka Mungo
Bela Lugosi
Casimir
John Carradine
Bohemund
George Sawaya
Sailor-Subject
Tor Johnson
Mr. Curry
Sally Yarnell
Female Subject
Peter Gordon
Sgt. Steele
Claire Carleton
Carmona Daly
Clive Morgan
Roundsman Blevins (uncredited)
Louanna Gardner
Angelina Cadman
Aubrey Schenck
Prison Coroner's Clerk (uncredited)
John Sheffield
Det. Redford (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 15, 1956
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$225K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Reginald Le Borg
- Screenplay & Story
- John C. Higgins
- Original Score
- Les Baxter
- Original Title
- The Black Sleep
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 22m
- Production Budget
- $225K
- Production Studios
- Bel-Air Productions, United Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Reginald Le Borg
John C. Higgins, Gerald Drayson Adams
Les Baxter
Gordon Avil
John F. Schreyer
Howard W. Koch, Aubrey Schenck
Department Leadership Roster
John C. Higgins
Screenplay
Howard W. Koch
Producer
Les Baxter
Original Music Composer
Reginald Le Borg
Director
John F. Schreyer
Editor
Gordon Avil
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Black Sleep.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Black Sleep.
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Horror Movie Collection 😍
Horror Movie My Favorite.
1950s Sci-Fi Boom
Science fiction films of 1950 to 1959.
All BluRay Movies EVER
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Missing Mine
MovieLens[20K:30K]
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Black Sleep
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
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 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...
Who directed The Black Sleep?
The Black Sleep was directed by Reginald Le Borg.
Who stars in The Black Sleep?
The principal cast of The Black Sleep includes Basil Rathbone, Herbert Rudley, Patricia Blair, Akim Tamiroff, Phyllis Stanley.
When was The Black Sleep released and how long is it?
The Black Sleep was released in 1956 with a total runtime of 1h 22m.
Who composed the musical score for The Black Sleep?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Black Sleep was composed by Les Baxter.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Black Sleep?
The Black Sleep holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).