The Old Dark House (1932): cast, story & where to watch
1932 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1932, The Old Dark House is a comedy and horror film directed by James Whale, running about 72 minutes. “Five persons in the house… Strangers cut off from the world by thunderstorms and landslide... Terror of the unknown draws them together.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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 Rebecca are the group's peculiar hosts. The house also holds surprises - and a brutish mute manservant named Morgan.
Who’s in it. The Old Dark House stars Boris Karloff as Morgan, Melvyn Douglas as Roger Penderel, Charles Laughton as Sir William 'Bill' Porterhouse and Lilian Bond as Gladys Perkins aka Gladys DuCane, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Old Dark House has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, FlixFling and Cohen Media Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Old Dark House page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Old Dark House tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Old Dark House (1932)?
- In US, The Old Dark House is available to stream on Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel and FlixFling, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Old Dark House worth watching?
- The Old Dark House holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and horror. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Old Dark House?
- The Old Dark House stars Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas, Charles Laughton, Lilian Bond and Ernest Thesiger.
- When was The Old Dark House released?
- The Old Dark House was released in 1932, with a runtime of about 72 minutes.