The Black Castle is a 1952 horror film produced and distributed by Universal Studios, directed by Nathan H. Juran and starring Richard Greene, Boris Karloff, Stephen McNally, Rita Corday (billed as Paula Corday), and Lon Chaney Jr..
British gentleman Sir Ronald Burton (Greene) travels to the estate of the sinister Count von Bruno (McNally) to investigate the disappearances of his two friends after events that transpired in Africa. Donning the alias "Richard Beckett" and accompanied by his trusted servant, he finds more than he bargains for when he witnesses the Count's dark activities and strikes up a relationship with his host's abused wife.
But when his secret is unraveled, he'll need all the help he can get from the castle doctor (Karloff) to escape the wrath of Count von Bruno.
The Black Castle holds prisoner the following tropes:
- Aristocrats Are Evil: Count von Bruno
- Bad People Abuse Animals: Bruno demonstrates this outright on a captured animal, which he also did just to make Elga uncomfortable.
- Buried Alive: Bruno's idea of disposing of Ronald and Elga after they took a drug to fake death. Thankfully, he doesn't succeed.
- Cassandra Truth: Dr. Meissen, upon finding Ronald, tries to warn him that Elga is in danger. Ronald doesn't believe him...until the doctor admits to murdering a friend of Bruno.
- Chekhov's Gun: The pistols Count von Bruno gave to Ronald as a prize for participating in the hunt. Dr. Meissen snuck the pistols into Ronald's casket, which Ronald used to kill Bruno and his accomplice after the drug completely wore off.
- Eyepatch of Power: Bruno sports one. See below for why he does so.
- Eye Scream: Count von Bruno has an injured eye from being shot, which exposed him as a false god to the natives of Africa and instigated a rebellion against him.
- Faking the Dead: Ronald and Elga, at the suggestion of Dr. Meissen, use a drug to fake their deaths as part of the plan to escape Count von Bruno.
- Faux Affably Evil: Count von Bruno may present himself as a nobleman of respect, but he also shows himself more than capable of cruelty when crossed.
- Have We Met?: Gargon expresses vague recognition of Ronald, but Bruno dissuades him, pointing out their guest is Richard.
- How We Got Here: The film starts with Ronald and Elga about to be sealed in their caskets by a saddened Fender. Then, it shifts to the day when Ronald makes plans to investigate Count von Bruno.
- In the Back: Bruno stabs Dr. Meissen in the back, knowing the part he played in attempting to help Ronald and Elga escape.
- Nice to the Waiter: Ronald demonstrates this quality with his servant Romley, and again with Fender to the point he offers to the latter a change of employer after seeing Bruno's character.
- Poison Is Evil: Inverted. Dr. Meissen poisoned one of Bruno's men to keep him from revealing Ronald's identity.
- Revenge: Count von Bruno's motivation for killing Ronald's friends and attempting to kill Ronald as well.
- Signature Item Clue: The carved faces from Africa, gifted to Ronald and his friends after the revolt.
- Til Murder Do Us Part: Discussed by Count von Bruno when he confronts Elga on her relationship with Richard, revealing he had killed his first wife and means to do the same to her since he hated him so much.
- Tongue Trauma: Gargon was rendered mute during the revolt by African natives.
- Unwanted Spouse: Elga was married to Count von Bruno against her will, but she doesn't like being around him.
- Wham Line: When Ronald doesn't listen to the doctor's warnings about Elga's safety, he drops this question to sway him. He even confesses to having murdered Streiken to keep him from revealing Ronald's real identity.
- Dr Meissen: Would murder convince you?
- You Shall Not Pass!: Romley attempts to fight off Count von Bruno's men to buy his master and Elga time to escape. He gets killed for his efforts.
