The Bat
Seen it?1959 | 80 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Monday Morning Maybeearly ratingWhy it’s a Monday Morning Maybe
With just 17% on Rotten Tomatoes, a lukewarm 5.9 out of 10 from audiences and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and horror fans. If you loved Psycho or The Big Sleep, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Scary, gritty.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 20 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1959: an older pace and style.
- Critics were cooler on it than audiences.
Mystery writer Cornelia Van Gorder has rented a country house called "The Oaks", which not long ago was the scene of some murders committed by a strange and violent criminal known as "The Bat". Meanwhile, the house's owner, bank president John Fleming, has recently embezzled one million dollars in securities and has hidden the proceeds in the house, but is killed before he can retrieve it.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsWeak
17% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesBelow par
5.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$1 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 37K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Psycho
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed detective horror thriller.
The Pale Blue Eye
Sunday Safe BetAnother detective crime thriller, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
I See You Sunday Safe BetAnother detective horror thriller, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
The Big Sleep Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed detective crime thriller.
Crooked House
Weeknight WatchAnother detective crime thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Crane Wilbur
- Vincent PriceDr. Malcolm Wells
- Agnes MooreheadCornelia van Gorder
- Gavin GordonLt. Andy Anderson
- John SuttonWarner, the Chauffeur
- Lenita LaneLizzie Allen
- Elaine EdwardsDale Bailey
- Darla HoodJudy Hollander
- John BryantMark Fleming
- Harvey StephensJohn Fleming
- Mike SteeleVictor Bailey