The Climax

The Climax
The Climax
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	George Waggner
Screenplay by	Curt Siodmak; Lynn Starling; George Waggner;
Story by	Curt Siodmak
Based on	The Climax; by Edward Locke
Produced by	George Waggner
Starring	Boris Karloff; Susanna Foster; Turhan Bey;
Music by	Edward Ward
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	October 20, 1944;
Running time	86 min.
Language	English
Budget	$750,000

The Climax is a horror film produced by Universal Pictures, first released in the United States in 1944. The credits state this is based on the 1909 play of the same name by Edward Locke, although the plot has little connection to Locke's play. Originally intended to be a sequel to Universal's remake of the Phantom of the Opera (1943), it featured new characters and a new plot. Susanna Foster was the only member of the cast to star in the new film.

Plot[]

The physician at the Vienna Royal Theatre, Dr. Hohner (Karloff) murders his fiancée, a prima donna, out of obsession and jealousy. Ten years later, he hears another young singer (Foster) who reminds him of the late diva, and is determined to make her sing only for him, even if it means silencing her forever.

Cast[]

Boris Karloff as Dr. Friedrich Hohner
Susanna Foster as Angela Klatt
Turhan Bey as Franz Munzer
Gale Sondergaard as Luise
Thomas Gomez as Count Seebruck
June Vincent as Marcellina
George Dolenz as Amato Roselli
Ludwig Stössel as Carl Baumann
as Jarmila Vadek
Ernő Verebes as Brunn
Lotte Stein as Mama Hinzl
Scotty Beckett as The King
William Edmunds as Leon, the theater concierge
as Count Romburg, the King's aide
as Miss Metzger
Francis Ford as Backstage Attendant (uncredited)

Production[]

The film was originally conceived as a sequel to Phantom of the Opera (1943).^[2] The Climax was made using the sets of the Phantom of the Opera remake, which in turn used Universal's opera house set for the original Phantom of the Opera (1925). Choreography was by Lester Horton. The film was also nominated for an Academy Award in 1944 for Best Art Direction (John B. Goodman, Alexander Golitzen, Russell A. Gausman, Ira S. Webb).

Reception[]

The Climax was a box office disappointment.^[1]

Home video release[]

This film, along with Night Key, Tower of London, The Strange Door and The Black Castle, was released on DVD in 2006 by Universal Studios as part of The Boris Karloff Collection.

In 2020, it was released in high definition as part of Scream Factory’s Universal Horror Collection, Vol. 4 blu ray set.

References[]

^ ^a ^b Stephen Jacobs, Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster, Tomahawk Press 2011 p 290-291
^ Scott McQueen, audio commentary on Phantom of the Opera DVD (Universal)

External links[]

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[karloff-1] Stephen Jacobs, Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster, Tomahawk Press 2011 p 290-291

[2] Scott McQueen, audio commentary on Phantom of the Opera DVD (Universal)

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