There are many actors who are typecast. It requires a lot of work to get rid of that thinking by the public and casting directors. It was a major reason why Boris Karloff left his role as the Frankenstein monster. He was able to get work in Hollywood after this move. He still played in horror and suspense films. He realized that this was his bread and butter.
One post Frankenstein film is Isle of the Dead. Karloff plays General Nicholas Pherides. He is in the middle of a war in Greece in 1912. He is on an island, with an American war correspondent named Oliver Davis, (Marc Kramer). Davis likes the general, but not his way of fighting the war. There are a few other people on the island. They are Thea, (Ellen Drew), Mrs. Mary St. Aubyn, (Kathryn Emery), Madam Kyra, (Helene Thimig), St. Aubyn, (Alan Napier) and Albrecht, (Jason Robards Sr.)
Things become tough when these people are forced to isolate, because of a plague. They follow the advise of Dr. Drossos, (Ernst Deutsch). He believes they will be alright, and the plague will disappear. His advice seems sound, until people start dying, including the doctor. Chaos gives way to common sense. Madam Kyra believes that a demon called a vorvalaka has caused the plague. She believes Thea is the demon. Her suspicions are accepted by the general, and he is determined to kill the woman. It doesn’t help that the general has been hardened by war, and devasted by his wife’s death, several years before. He is unable to think rationally. His mission to stop the plague, by killing Thea is hampered by Oliver Davis. The reporter has fallen in love with her. He understands the general doing everything to keep people alive. He draws the line at believing that an innocent woman must die. The terror comes to a crescendo, when Mrs. St. Auburn, is thought to be a victim of the plague. She has fallen into a catatonic state, and is buried alive.
The terror in this film is really people’s state of mind. This is effectively done by director Marc Robson. There is one very effective scene. It is when Madam Kyra, is talking through the locked door to Thea. She keeps saying Vervolaka. It goes to the unnaturally suspicious Madam Kyra, to the fearful Thea. There is also the insanity of Mrs. St. Auburn, after being buried in the mausoleum.
Isle of the Dead is one of a few films produced by Val Lewton, through RKO studios. The studio was primarily known for the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films. The 1940’s brought them notoriety for their low budget, but sleek looking horror films. They make up for Universal’s decline in their horror movies. These films were low budget, but made money. It helped that Isle of the Dead had the presence of Boris Karloff. The supporting cast also makes this movie suitable for anyone, regardless of their movie taste.