Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), whose real name was William Henry Pratt, was an English-born actor who emigrated to Canada in 1909. Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), and Son of Frankenstein (1939). His popularity following Frankenstein was such that for a brief time he was billed simply as "Karloff" or "Karloff the Uncanny". His best-known non-horror role is as the Grinch in the television special of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. Description above from the Wikipedia article Boris Karloff, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

After recovering from injuries sustained in the mob attack upon himself and his creation, Dr. Frankenstein falls under the control of his former mentor, Dr. Pretorius, who insists the now-chastened doctor resume his experiments in creating new life. Meanwhile, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Whale
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Colin Clive  •  Valerie Hobson  •  Ernest Thesiger

After recovering from injuries sustained in the mob attack upon himself and his creation, Dr. Frankenstein falls under the control of his former mentor, Dr. Pretorius, who insists the now-chastened doctor resume his experiments in creating new life. Meanwhile, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Whale
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Colin Clive  •  Valerie Hobson  •  Ernest Thesiger

Frankenstein (1931)

Dr. Henry Frankenstein attempts to create life by assembling a creature from body parts of the deceased. Aided by his loyal misshapen assistant, Fritz, Frankenstein succeeds in animating his monster, but, confused and traumatized, it escapes into the countryside ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Whale
CAST:  Colin Clive  •  Mae Clarke  •  John Boles  •  Boris Karloff

Dr. Henry Frankenstein attempts to create life by assembling a creature from body parts of the deceased. Aided by his loyal misshapen assistant, Fritz, Frankenstein succeeds in animating his monster, but, confused and traumatized, it escapes into the countryside ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Whale
CAST:  Colin Clive  •  Mae Clarke  •  John Boles  •  Boris Karloff

House of Frankenstein (1944)

An evil scientist and a hunchback escape from prison and encounter Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein's Monster.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Erle C. Kenton
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Lon Chaney Jr.  •  John Carradine  •  Anne Gwynne

An evil scientist and a hunchback escape from prison and encounter Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein's Monster.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Erle C. Kenton
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Lon Chaney Jr.  •  John Carradine  •  Anne Gwynne

Scarface (1932)

In 1920s Chicago, Italian immigrant and notorious thug, Antonio "Tony" Camonte, shoots his way to the top of the mobs while trying to protect his sister from the criminal life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Howard Hawks
CAST:  Paul Muni  •  Ann Dvorak  •  Karen Morley  •  Osgood Perkins

In 1920s Chicago, Italian immigrant and notorious thug, Antonio "Tony" Camonte, shoots his way to the top of the mobs while trying to protect his sister from the criminal life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Howard Hawks
CAST:  Paul Muni  •  Ann Dvorak  •  Karen Morley  •  Osgood Perkins

Son of Frankenstein (1939)

One of the sons of Frankenstein finds his father's monster in a coma and revives him, only to find out he is controlled by Ygor who is bent on revenge.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rowland V. Lee
CAST:  Basil Rathbone  •  Boris Karloff  •  Bela Lugosi  •  Lionel Atwill

One of the sons of Frankenstein finds his father's monster in a coma and revives him, only to find out he is controlled by Ygor who is bent on revenge.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rowland V. Lee
CAST:  Basil Rathbone  •  Boris Karloff  •  Bela Lugosi  •  Lionel Atwill

The Black Cat (1934)

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.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edgar G. Ulmer
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Bela Lugosi  •  David Manners  •  Julie Bishop

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.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edgar G. Ulmer
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Bela Lugosi  •  David Manners  •  Julie Bishop

The Body Snatcher (1945)

Edinburgh, 1831. Among those who undertake the illegal trade of grave robbery is Gray, ostensibly a cab driver. Formerly a medical student convicted of grave robbery, Gray holds a grudge against Dr. MacFarlane who had escaped detection and punishment.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Wise
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Bela Lugosi  •  Henry Daniell  •  Edith Atwater

Edinburgh, 1831. Among those who undertake the illegal trade of grave robbery is Gray, ostensibly a cab driver. Formerly a medical student convicted of grave robbery, Gray holds a grudge against Dr. MacFarlane who had escaped detection and punishment.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Wise
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Bela Lugosi  •  Henry Daniell  •  Edith Atwater

The Climax (1944)

Dr. Hohner, theatre physician at the Vienna Royal Theatre, murders his mistress, the star soprano when his jealousy drives him to the point of mad obsession. Ten years later, another young singer reminds Hohner of the late diva and his old mania kicks in. Hohner ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Waggner
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Susanna Foster  •  Turhan Bey  •  Gale Sondergaard

Dr. Hohner, theatre physician at the Vienna Royal Theatre, murders his mistress, the star soprano when his jealousy drives him to the point of mad obsession. Ten years later, another young singer reminds Hohner of the late diva and his old mania kicks in. Hohner ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Waggner
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Susanna Foster  •  Turhan Bey  •  Gale Sondergaard

The Last of the Mohicans (1920)

As Alice and Cora Munro attempt to find their father, a British officer in the French and Indian War, they are set upon by French soldiers and their cohorts, Huron tribesmen led by the evil Magua. Fighting to rescue the women are Chingachgook and his son Uncas, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Maurice Tourneur
CAST:  Wallace Beery  •  Barbara Bedford  •  Alan Roscoe  •  Lillian Hall

As Alice and Cora Munro attempt to find their father, a British officer in the French and Indian War, they are set upon by French soldiers and their cohorts, Huron tribesmen led by the evil Magua. Fighting to rescue the women are Chingachgook and his son Uncas, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Maurice Tourneur
CAST:  Wallace Beery  •  Barbara Bedford  •  Alan Roscoe  •  Lillian Hall

The Mummy (1932)

An ancient Egyptian priest named Imhotep is revived when an archaeological expedition finds his mummy and one of the archaeologists accidentally reads an ancient life-giving spell. Imhotep escapes from the field site and searches for the reincarnation of the soul ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Karl Freund
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Zita Johann  •  David Manners  •  Edward Van Sloan

An ancient Egyptian priest named Imhotep is revived when an archaeological expedition finds his mummy and one of the archaeologists accidentally reads an ancient life-giving spell. Imhotep escapes from the field site and searches for the reincarnation of the soul ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Karl Freund
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Zita Johann  •  David Manners  •  Edward Van Sloan

The Mummy's Curse (1944)

After being buried in quicksand for the past 25 years, Kharis is set free to roam the rural bayous of Louisiana, as is the soul of his beloved Princess Ananka, still housed in the body of Amina Mansouri, who seeks help and protection at a swamp draining project.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leslie Goodwins
CAST:  Lon Chaney Jr.  •  Peter Coe  •  Virginia Christine  •  Kay Harding

After being buried in quicksand for the past 25 years, Kharis is set free to roam the rural bayous of Louisiana, as is the soul of his beloved Princess Ananka, still housed in the body of Amina Mansouri, who seeks help and protection at a swamp draining project.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leslie Goodwins
CAST:  Lon Chaney Jr.  •  Peter Coe  •  Virginia Christine  •  Kay Harding

The Mummy's Hand (1940)

A couple of young, out-of-work archaeologists in Egypt discover evidence of the burial place of the ancient Egyptian princess Ananka. After receiving funding from an eccentric magician and his beautiful daughter, they set out into the desert only to be terrorized ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christy Cabanne
CAST:  Dick Foran  •  Tom Tyler  •  George Zucco  •  Peggy Moran

A couple of young, out-of-work archaeologists in Egypt discover evidence of the burial place of the ancient Egyptian princess Ananka. After receiving funding from an eccentric magician and his beautiful daughter, they set out into the desert only to be terrorized ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christy Cabanne
CAST:  Dick Foran  •  Tom Tyler  •  George Zucco  •  Peggy Moran

The Old Dark House (1932)

Seeking shelter from a relentless rainstorm and landslides in a remote region of Wales, five travelers are admitted to a large foreboding old house that belongs to the extremely strange Femm family. Sepulchral Horace Femm and his obsessive, inhospitable sister ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Whale
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Melvyn Douglas  •  Charles Laughton  •  Ernest Thesiger

Seeking shelter from a relentless rainstorm and landslides in a remote region of Wales, five travelers are admitted to a large foreboding old house that belongs to the extremely strange Femm family. Sepulchral Horace Femm and his obsessive, inhospitable sister ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Whale
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Melvyn Douglas  •  Charles Laughton  •  Ernest Thesiger

The Raven (1935)

A brilliant but deranged neurosurgeon becomes obsessively fixated on a judge's daughter. With the help of an escaped criminal whose face he has surgically deformed, the mad man lures her, her father, and her fiancé to his isolated castle-like home, where he has ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lew Landers
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Bela Lugosi  •  Lester Matthews  •  Irene Ware

A brilliant but deranged neurosurgeon becomes obsessively fixated on a judge's daughter. With the help of an escaped criminal whose face he has surgically deformed, the mad man lures her, her father, and her fiancé to his isolated castle-like home, where he has ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lew Landers
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Bela Lugosi  •  Lester Matthews  •  Irene Ware

The Terror (1963)

A young officer in Napoleon's army pursues a mysterious woman to the castle of an elderly Baron.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Jack Nicholson  •  Sandra Knight  •  Dick Miller

A young officer in Napoleon's army pursues a mysterious woman to the castle of an elderly Baron.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Corman
CAST:  Boris Karloff  •  Jack Nicholson  •  Sandra Knight  •  Dick Miller

Tower of London (1939)

In the 15th century Richard Duke of Gloucester, aided by his club-footed executioner Mord, eliminates those ahead of him in succession to the throne, then occupied by his brother King Edward IV of England. As each murder is accomplished he takes particular delight ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rowland V. Lee
CAST:  Basil Rathbone  •  Boris Karloff  •  Barbara O'Neil  •  Ian Hunter

In the 15th century Richard Duke of Gloucester, aided by his club-footed executioner Mord, eliminates those ahead of him in succession to the throne, then occupied by his brother King Edward IV of England. As each murder is accomplished he takes particular delight ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rowland V. Lee
CAST:  Basil Rathbone  •  Boris Karloff  •  Barbara O'Neil  •  Ian Hunter

Five Star Final (1931)

Searching for headlines at any cost, an unscrupulous newspaper owner forces his editor to print a serial based on a past murder, tormenting a woman involved.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mervyn LeRoy
CAST:  Edward G. Robinson  •  Marian Marsh  •  H.B. Warner  •  Anthony Bushell

Searching for headlines at any cost, an unscrupulous newspaper owner forces his editor to print a serial based on a past murder, tormenting a woman involved.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mervyn LeRoy
CAST:  Edward G. Robinson  •  Marian Marsh  •  H.B. Warner  •  Anthony Bushell

The House of Rothschild (1934)

The story of the rise of the Rothschild financial empire founded by Mayer Rothschild and continued by his five sons. From humble beginnings the business grows and helps to finance the war against Napoleon, but it's not always easy, especially because of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred L. Werker
CAST:  George Arliss  •  Boris Karloff  •  Loretta Young  •  C. Aubrey Smith

The story of the rise of the Rothschild financial empire founded by Mayer Rothschild and continued by his five sons. From humble beginnings the business grows and helps to finance the war against Napoleon, but it's not always easy, especially because of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred L. Werker
CAST:  George Arliss  •  Boris Karloff  •  Loretta Young  •  C. Aubrey Smith

Two Arabian Knights (1927)

During World War I, two American soldiers fight to escape the Germans while squabbling over a beautiful harem girl.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lewis Milestone
CAST:  William Boyd  •  Mary Astor  •  Louis Wolheim  •  Ian Keith

During World War I, two American soldiers fight to escape the Germans while squabbling over a beautiful harem girl.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lewis Milestone
CAST:  William Boyd  •  Mary Astor  •  Louis Wolheim  •  Ian Keith

Targets (1968)

The fate of a washed-up horror actor intersects with a psychotic sniper on a killing spree.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Tim O'Kelly  •  Boris Karloff  •  Arthur Peterson  •  Monte Landis

The fate of a washed-up horror actor intersects with a psychotic sniper on a killing spree.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Tim O'Kelly  •  Boris Karloff  •  Arthur Peterson  •  Monte Landis
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