Tall, Dark and Gruesome

Duration: 7:00

Year Published: 1940

Complete Record: Famous horror film actor Hugh Herbert plays Hugh Sherlock who is writing a piece about the mob, but the construction work outside his apartment is both scaring and distracting him. His childlike black butler is his sidekick, and the two abscond to Sherlock’s country house for some peace and quiet. Unfortunately, someone sends Sherlock a gorilla in a large crate who breaks free and runs amuck in the house scaring both Sherlock and Dudley. To make it worse three costumed partygoers find their way into the house - an angel, a devil and either death or a skeleton and they also terrorize Dudley and Sherlock. Extra information: Loud construction work drowning out swearing is a running joke for the first part of the film. A few black face / minstrel jokes. Sherlock gets covered in soot and looks into the mirror and thinks he’s talking to Dudley. Sherlock also mistakes the gorilla for Dudley. There’s one gag where the partygoer dressed as a skeleton lights Sherlock’s cigarette. Lots of splapstick humor. Keyword: Halloween, grim reaper