Dr. Alfred Morris, a university chemistry professor, rediscovers an ancient Mayan formula for a gas which turns men into pliant, obedient, zombie-like ghouls. After medical student Ted Allison becomes a guinea pig for Morris, the professor imagines that Allison's fiancée, a beautiful concert singer Isabel Lewis, wants to break off the engagement because she prefers the professor as a more "mature" lover but in reality loves Eric, her accompanist. In order to bring Ted back from his trance-like states, Morris commands him to perform a cardiectomy on recently deceased or living bodies in order to use serum from their hearts as a temporary antidote. When the serial murders seem to coincide with Isabel's touring schedule, ace reporter "Scoop" McClure gets on the mad scientist's trail.
David Bruce | Ted Allison |
Evelyn Ankers | Isabel Lewis |
George Zucco | Dr. Alfred Morris |
Robert Armstrong | Ken McClure |
Turhan Bey | Eric Iverson |
Milburn Stone | Macklin |
Andrew Tombes | Eagan |
Rose Hobart | Della |
Addison Richards | Gavigan |
Charles McGraw | Garrity |
Gus Glassmire | Caretaker |
Lillian Cornell | Isabel's Singing Voice (voice) (uncredited) |