Kattiera Nana I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Rainey Dawn I liked this film to a degree: the idea of vampire bats, a murder mystery and a belief that one might be a vampire rolled into a film is a pretty neat idea 1935 and still is today.The acting is good, fine. The story is just "okay" - nothing to really brag about but it's not a terrible film either. The biggest thing is it's easy to solve the mystery, so you are left watching the characters "solve the mystery" when you already know the answer - but it is kind fun watching them solve it.Dr. Anders Bizet is played by Pedro de Cordoba - quite well I must add. But I have to admit I kept seeing John Carradine playing the role in my mind.5.5/10

kidboots Marilyn Knowlden was a sweet and exquisite child actress who played sweet and exquisite children (Little Cosette in "Les Miserables" (1934), Frances in "The Conquerors' (1932), Kim in "Show Boat" (1936) and Princess Therese in "Marie Antoinette" (1938) among others). "Condemned to Live" was one of her very few budget films but she was in good company. Ralph Morgan was always a good character actor, excelling in quirky villain roles until he became better known as Frank Morgan's older brother. He plays Professor Paul Kristan who, along with his apelike assistant, Zan (Mischa Auer) is called to a cave in his village to examine a man that has been killed by a bat. He is engaged to marry Marguerite (Maxine Doyle) who although she doesn't love him, worships him as a village hero. Unbeknownst to the village the professor is really a vampire!!! Paul's mother was bitten by a vampire bat and so Paul carries the curse. He kills his victims and then leaves them to be found in the cave. The village believe the killer to be a bat, but David (Russell Gleason) who is in love with Marguerite thinks a human is responsible. When Marguerite's maid is found dead, suspicion turns to Zan, who always seems to be around. Paul realises he is the "fiend" but when he finds himself alone with Marguerite, like a fool she somehow manages to blow out all the candles. He then attacks her but Zan bursts through the windows and saves her. The villagers, thinking Zan is the fiend chase him to the cave until David catches up with them and tells them it is really the beloved Professor.With a plot borrowing heavily from "Frankenstein" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", it is an interesting film. There is even a little Maria, a village child played by Marilyn Knowlden.Recommended.

doctorsmoothlove Rating films as from this era can be quite challenging. American horror films of the 1930's are notorious for unbelievable special effects, degrading female acting, and incoherent plots. This film is no exception, but Condemned to Live is still entertaining due to the care with which it was made. It isn't Karloff's Frankenstein, but it's worth a viewing.In an African cave, a pregnant woman is bitten by a vampire bat. It is implied that her child is born and sent back to a European village. He becomes a doctor and is quite respected in his town. This prestige has earned him the admiration of a young woman, Marguerite. However, Marguerite has fallen in love with her neighbor David, but feels obligated to marry doctor Kristan. Kristan is visited by a college, Dr. Bizet who discovers Kristan's affliction: he becomes ferociously violent when the lights are dimmed and has killed several people. Kristan does not recall any of these murders and thinks the culprit is a giant bat. He remains innocent due to his devoted hunchback, Zan, covering his outbursts. Both are discovered and commit suicide at the end of the film.With such a short running time, a lot happens in Condemned to Live, and most of it happens too quickly. Despite the compressed time, the film develops an intriguing antagonist. Dr. Kristan is hell-bent on discovering the perpetrator of the murders, but is unaware of his involvement in them. While it isn't difficult to see this plot twist, Strayer's incorporation of Jeckyll and Hyde personality disorder and vampirism into Ralph Morgan's character add suspense to the film. Zan also shares traditional horror elements, with his inhuman devotion to his master and his shrunken appearance. These two also have a fitting end in their joined suicide. Kristan is a knowledgeable man, and he knows he must separate himself from the village in order to continue serving the people.The special effects are also worthwhile and appear as realistic as one could expect from a film so old. The bat in the opening sequence doesn't appear fake given the film's age, which is unlike some films today (Army of Darkness is a modern film which incorporates absurdly unconvincing special effects). Morgan's portrayal as a bloodthirsty killer is also intriguing. He exhibits no obvious traits of being a vampire, but bites people as if he were. I interpret his desire to bite as a trait inherited from the bat which attacked his mother. This is why he prefers biting people on the neck, but isn't a real vampire.I may have read too much into the film, but a good film allows an audience to do that. The film does suffer from a low budget, and certain parts of it are difficult to see. If you find a single disc version, I would suggest that you watch it, since I've had better success with them. I've read the plot summary for The Vampire Bat, and feel obligated to warn you that this film is similar but they both have around a 5.0 rating on IMDb. Yes, there are several holes in the plot, but I don't think I can fairly lower the film's score given its age. While Condemned to Live is dated, it is still a great way to spend 67 minutes of your time.

Michael O'Keefe Professor Paul Kriston(Ralph Morgan) is a well liked and respected doctor in his tiny village. The beautiful Marguerite(Maxine Doyle)is willing to be his bride in spite of being in love with another man, David(Russell Gleason). The doctor has a hunchbacked servant(Mischa Auer);this is the clue that this is a horror flick. Kriston has suffered a vampire curse his whole life and is not even aware that he has a blood-sucking habit at night. Miss Marguerite discovers her fiancée's secret, only after she realizes she's actually in love with her other man. Things have already turned sinister.This 30's chiller is directed by Frank Strayer. Other players include: Pedro de Cardoba, Lucy Beaumont and Carl Stockdale.