Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Flyerplesys Perfectly adorable

Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

bnwfilmbuff What do you get when a prison escapee, a thief, a gangster, and a crime boss meet one stormy night at an out-of-the-way inn? The Black Raven which is the name of not only this movie but this inn and also the pseudonym by which George Zucco is evidently known in more nefarious circles. There's no plot to this movie. The rain has washed out the bridge to Canada and is forcing these folks, plus a couple trying to elope, to stay at the Black Raven Inn. They've all got separate agendas until it's known that there's $50,000 floating around and that changes everything. There is some terrific atmosphere and a semi-eerie old dark house setting. There is also some unwelcome comic relief, which is a staple of these 1940s mysteries, this time mainly from handyman Glenn Strange. It's nothing too special but enjoyable B fare.

drystyx This is the sort of film that is more of a stage play, meant to showcase talents of up and comers in schools and community theaters.It is a basic mystery in a secluded area, with shady characters to serve as suspects, including a cliché young hero and heroine. Unfortunately, the romance is gone from this one, as the pair already are engaged before we meet them. Instead of the romantic older film plot of boy meets girl, it is the modern movie plot of boy already has girl. We know the modern movie anti-romance plot is because movies are often viewed by couples who already met. The industry today is based on placating the already decided couple instead of single men.So the movie has the "atmosphere" elements of the old stage play mystery mixed with modern commercialism.The comic relief character is usually what makes these movies watchable, and here "Andy" does a credible job of comic relief. He is both engaging and entertaining. He helps to make the movie flow.The story flows much better than most such movies, particularly the modern ones. There isn't anything memorable, just good popcorn and soda fun.

Cristi_Ciopron Dear reader, do you like the _mefistofelic Zucco? A once known character actor, he had nonetheless some leading roles; a few. And the intelligent, phlegmatic guy from BLACK RAVEN suits daddy Zucco just well. A nice lead in a short, rapid flick, in a very humble and unassuming class of mystery flicks. They ask average competence (and no budget) to make for average fun. At least they sometimes had the decency to secure a notable lead—a Karloff, a Lugosi or at least a Zucco or other 'B' glory. Such flicks are no cinema—just like a newspaper isn't literature; it's stuff to be consumed. It's useless to rate them; they're just their class. For something smarter, check elsewhere.BLACK RAVEN is a short flick about a tempestuous evening near the Canadian border. Zucco plays the owner of the place where all the characters gather and a plot is dressed up. This mystery movie has nothing even remotely original or memorable—just a short story shortly told. You know I have found a kind word for other flicks of this class—in previous comments—and I'll oblige this time too, basically repeating my recommendation—if rightly assessed, BLACK RAVEN offers what's expected from this genre. Not to be preferred to anything else.But if you were expecting in any way something better, or classier, then, my lad, get the freak out of here!

Woodyanders A motley group of people are forced to seek shelter at a remote inn run by the snooty, sarcastic, but suave Amos Bradford (a perfectly unctuous George Zucco) because of a raging thunderstorm that has flooded out the bridge and the roads alike. These eclectic individuals include a vengeful escaped convict whom Bradford put in jail, a meek geeky bank teller who's trying to embezzle $50,000 bucks, a mean, ruthless mobster who also wants to get his grubby paws on the hot loot, a young couple who are planning to get married, and the huffy, overbearing, disapproving father of the bride-to-be. Naturally, a vicious killer starts bumping folks off. Efficiently directed in a briskly straightforward and economical no-frills manner by Sam Newfield, with an endearingly hokey script by Fred Myton, plenty of sharply sardonic dialogue, stark, gritty black and white photography by Robert Cline, a booming, melodramatic score by Charles Dunworth, and game acting from a solid cast (Glenn Strange in particular contributes an amiable performance as Bradford's clumsy, cowardly, oafish assistant Andy while Charlie Middleton registers strongly as a jerky ramrod sheriff), this wittily enjoyable Grade B mystery thriller potboiler delivers a reasonable amount of cheap thrills. A fun little quickie.