Boris Karloff played a number of mad scientists over the years. Before I Hang is a typical example. At the outset, Karloff’s physician is sentenced to murder for killing a patient in what sounds like euthanasia. In prison, he is allowed to continue his experiments on a serum for extending life. He succeeds, and convinces another physician (Edward Van Sloane) to inject him. The experiment involves a murderer’s blood, though, and once his sentence is first commuted and then overturned he leaves prison with a plan to continue his work. Unfortunately, he has adopted some of the murderer’s traits and ends up acting out on his elderly friends when they refuse his help.

A minor film, Before I Hang benefits from Karloff’s always stately presence.  He is convincing both as a kindly physician and as a killer torn by instincts he doesn’t understand. The film’s early sequences in prison are dull but once he returns home and starts murdering his friends the excitement builds. Unfortunately, it only builds a little and then it is all over in 62 minutes. The score, photography, and director are all standard issue and the supporting performances, save Van Sloane’s, are unmemorable. This film should be aimed primarily at Karloff fans or people who like mad scientist films (are there any of those?).  ✰ ✰.

MJM  02-05-2012