It's a bit creaky in spots, Robert Armstrong's drunken lout is extremely tiresome (intentionally so-the producers were teetotalers), and Zaroff is certainly speaking gibberish instead of Russian, but it all works very well. Banks is a memorable villain, perhaps the archetype for all the James Bond villains that would follow. Often remade, often imitated, by everything from Predator to Gilligan's Island (!), but never surpassed.

Originally 75 minutes, but much footage of Zaroff's gruesome trophies was removed when test audiences reacted a bit squeamishly. A few tantalizing hints remains in the background, but sadly the footage is long lost.