Very disappointed :(

A different way of telling a story

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Bluebeard is striking because the director Edward G. Ullmer, who directed countless films, some forgotten and some that popped out of their poverty-row shells to be classics (Detour the most prominent and probably best), is able to make it interesting on a pure cinematographic level. Bluebeard's DVD print isn't very clear, but what can be seen is the direction and ambiance of a classy but perfectly gloomy thriller, like a skilled apprentice of German expressionism tackling a typical subject. The Bluebeard of the title is played by John Carradine as a slimy but somehow charming killer of women- strangling them after inviting them in to paint their portraits or sketch them for his puppets and then dumping them in the river- who finds a woman who he wants to design the costumes for his show. But as things develop in the movie (a short one at 74 minutes, if not as short as Detour), things grow darker, and predictable.But for all that is dated and stilted with Bluebeard, from the lessor actresses and the music that intrudes rather than compliments the scenes, it has that style of direction and Carradine. Carradine is so good here that you can just watch it for him, and even turn down the volume to just have a good look at an actor who, as would later be seen by his offspring David and Keith, could do so much with his a glint of the eye, a gesture of subtlety and mannerisms that allow us in on this character rather than just a passive observer. It's not the be-all-end-all of Bluebeard movies (I've yet to see the 1970s Bluebeard so I can't yet compare), but it's a decent one, and features operatic puppets, which is an added bonus that is only half as silly as you'd expect.

Always enjoyed the films of John Carradine and in this film you will see his great acting abilities as a painter who loves to paint beautiful women and gets a thrill out of killing them. John playing the role of Bluebeard is a natural to him with all his expressions and eyes that seem to glow like moons. The law is constantly trying to find this killer and they keep going around in circles. Bluebead meets up with a very attractive girl named Lucille, (Jean Parker) who seems to make him change his ways and he actually falls in love with her and she has no idea just what type of man he is, except that he paints a good picture. This is a great John Carradine Classic which is worth watching after his many horror films over the years of his career.

19 Century Paris is plagued by a Bluebeard murdering local streetwalkers by strangling them, leaving their bodies in the river. Come to find out, the serial killer is a tormented artist, a master puppeteer who orchestrates street puppet operas, named Gaston Morrell(John Carradine). Morrell's potential downfall might be his falling in love with Madame Lucille(Jean Parker), a clothing designer and the daughter of an aristocratic Duke who purchased a painting of his featuring a murdered female. Morrell's other obvious problem stems from a sneaky, lying art dealer Lamarte(Ludwig Stössel)who allows him to work in a rent-free dwelling as long as he continues to churn out paintings..under a pseudonym, Morrell doesn't know that Lamarte actually makes fine profits from his work, having him believe they sell modestly. Inspector Lefevre(Nils Asther)is under pressure to find the Bluebeard and believes the key to catching him lies in securing the identity of the artist behind the Duke's painting containing the victim of strangulation. In a tragic turn of events, the Duke will allow his daughter Francine(Teala Loring)to work as a model for Morrell, arranged by Lamarte who sees big bucks(..while understanding that something is amiss with the Duke, having his own concocted plan in order to set up Morrell, while walking away with a hefty sum)in such a sitting..with hopes of catching the Bluebeard, Lefevre places Francine in possible danger, even though the authorities were standing by. Lucille, who stitched a specific cravat, used to strangle someone she loved so dear, will possibly lead to Morrell's downfall.I've been awaiting an opportunity to see Carradine in a role such as the one he has in Edgar G Ulmer's BLUEBEARD. He is front and center with such a complex character;this is the kind of film where Carradine can truly shine. We see a man troubled with different types of feelings, an artist in absolute turmoil. My favorite scene in the film comes right at the end when we get an understanding at why Morrell is committing such violence towards "innocent" women..how painting truly creates a monster. Carradine finally has this grand stage to show what he always had, an ability to display a fractured man, torn between his love for Lucille, and the monster lurking inside, released when the artist realizes that his muses aren't the beauties he creates on canvas. Ulmer is no idiot, and he realizes that Carradine has sinister eyes that can only benefit the camera, but unlike those great Universal turns as Dracula, the actor has a role with meat. Carradine doesn't have the looming shadow of Bela Lugosi hanging over him..Gaston Morrell is all his, and Carradine delivers. Fans of Ulmer understand that this film, despite gorgeous uses of shadow and candle-light(..and matte paintings as handsome backgrounds), is yet another poverty row production shot on low quality film, but his style still shines through...and, for such budget, I think he's rather successful at recreating Paris at that time. And, if anything, we get rooms with secret passageways, such as two places owned by Lamarte, so if you're an Ulmer disciple, there's goodies here for you to salivate over. But, I think Carradine fans owe it to themselves to watch BLUEBEARD, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Major annoyance for me was the musical accompaniment..during key scenes where menacing music should play, there are melodies for westerns or romancers.

John Carradine has called his role as "bluebeard" one of his favorite characters to play and it shows. He plays a puppeteer and painter who likes to paint women. The problem with this hobby is that he also likes to strangle the women once he paints them. Well, he finally meets a girl he really falls for and struggles with his inner demons in deciding whether to make her his next victim. It is explained at the end why this seemingly well-mannered artist has these uncontrollable urges to kill women. The film has a good look and feel to it and the acting's not bad for a film of this time. It does however move slowly at some points but comes together at the end.