Copyright 1 March 1940 by Monogram Pictures Corp. John Argyle Productions. Filmed at Welwyn Studios, Herts. U.S. release through Monogram (cut to 73 minutes): 9 March 1940. New York opening at the Globe: 24 March 1940. U.K. release through Pathé: 1939. Banned in Australia. 76 minutes Alternative title: Dead Eyes of London.U.S. release title: The Human Monster. NOTES: Number 58 of the 152-picture "Edgar Wallace" series.SYNOPSIS: Posing as a philanthropist, an arch-criminal (Bela Lugosi) runs an insurance racket in which victims are murdered by a human monster (Wilfred Walter).COMMENT: A real shocker, this one was banned in some countries, including Finland and Australia. Produced on a lavish budget, it's hard to believe the extensive sets were constructed at Welwyn. In my day, these was a real Poverty Row studio with sound stages no bigger than the average bathroom, used for filming the sort of time-wasting rubbish that many people watch on TV. Presumably, pre-war Welwyn was a quite a big place. Although it depends to a large extent on co-incidence, the script is sound enough, but what makes the movie really go are the action scenes and the acting. Admittedly, Hugh Williams is personable but lightweight as the hero, and Edmon Ryan is just a nuisance, but Greta Gynt makes a lovely heroine and Lugosi really shines as the evil Orloff. But it's the hideous Wilfred Walter and his cohorts who will really give you nightmares. The direction is efficient and the photography suitably dark-toned.

Poor audio and cheap production values make this crime melodrama barely watchable, saved only by the action-packed ending and some horrific moments of suspense. It surrounds an insurance scam set inside a school for the blind. Bela Lugosi is the mastermind behind the scam, and it isn't made clear whether "The Human Monster" or "The Dark Eyes of London" (its original title which I prefer) are Lugosi's or the blind giant (Wilfred Walter) who utilizes other senses to perform Lugosi's nefarious orders. This seems like something that Tod Slaughter would have done, fitting considering his low-budget British melodramas like "The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and "A Face at the Window". Lugosi isn't believable at all in his disguise, and the dubbed voice of another actor for that disguise is just absurd and not at all convincing. Even with 65 minutes of dull melodrama, the climax picks up the pace as if the writers realized a bit too late that something needed to be done to save the film from total fiasco.

It was a night full of heavy rain and thunderstorms yesterday. We decided to watch some scary films from 1939 with the lights down low while our dog hid by us from the thunder. The first one we watched was 'The Face at the Window' (1939). The second was 'Human Monster' also from that same year.'The Human Monster' stars Bela Lugosi. It takes place in England, possibly London. It seems there have been a number of people dying mysteriously, someone is collecting the insurance money on them. Mr. Lugosi plays a man who has dual careers, he's a doctor and he also sells life insurance...a very suspicious combination. He also does volunteer work as the on- call doctor for a local home for the blind. This home includes a large gruesome looking thug who may be a killer. The home is run by the kindly blind man Prof. John Dearborn. Also the story has the usual young couple who get caught up in the danger. Here it's a young investigator who falls for the daughter of one of the victims. She helps to find her father's killer. They also throw in a character for comic relief. He's a policeman from the United States in England to study their investigation methods. I found this story to be better than the first movie. It has some very scary moments for the time it was made. I would say it featured arguably the most evil and cruel character Bela Lugosi ever played. Previously I would have said his Dracula or his character from 'The Raven' had that devious honor. This guy makes them look almost tame in comparison. There are two scenes I found especially disturbing. I won't go into them here so as not to ruin the film for those who have not seen it. I can see why this is the first movie in Britain to receive the 'H' (for Horror) certificate. It has scenes that remind me of the eeriest from Erle C. Kenton's 'Island of Lost Souls' or some of Tod Browning's work from the same decade. I consider 'The Human Monster' to be a horror classic and well worth seeing for fans of that genre.Both films together make a good lights out, stormy night, double feature. I hope some of you will check them out if you've never seen them and you like these sort of films.

Human Monster/Dark Eyes of London has some fine moments mingled with the tedious and the ridiculous. The cinematography is excellent in places and competent all the time. The characters are capably acted, even the monstrous Jake whose makeup, if you can call it that, is so corny it's embarrassing. The viewer must deal with the fact that the detectives in the film are agonizingly slow to see what any ten-year old could see right from Bela Lugosi's first scene; namely, that he is up to no good and that there is definitely something not quite right about this guy. In fact, one wonders why his victims don't catch on because Bela really hams it up at times. Now don't be angry at me, I'm a great fan of Lugosi, but he overplays his evil moments as Dr Orloff in the early going, tipping the audience much too soon.WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILER!!We are, however, treated to one of Bela's more delicate characterizations in the form of Professor Dearborn. The change in mannerisms is astounding because if you are not very familiar with Bela Lugosi you might not even realize it is he playing the part. I know this is true because it is what happened to my wife. She did not catch that Bela was Dearborn! The illusion is aided greatly by the nearly perfect dubbing of another actor's voice for Dearborn. This was accomplished brilliantly and it is a shame that the voice actor gets no credit. Bela completes the illusion with gentle mannerisms that are both subtle and natural. He is completely believable in the part of Dearborn. He is also convincing as Orloff in the latter part of the film, especially in the climax when it becomes apparent how little value he places on the men he uses. It is at this point that even the ridiculous appearance of Jake is overcome by the acting and the action.Dark Eyes of London suffers from some slow moving moments and poor pacing, but overall it is entertaining and if nothing else is a fine example of what Bela Lugosi was capable of accomplishing given the opportunity.