The Raven (1935 film)

The Raven is a 1935 American horror film directed by Lew Landers billed under his real name, Louis Friedlander and starring Boris Karloff and Bla Lugosi. The picture revolves around Edgar Allan Poes famous homonymous poem, featuring Lugosi as a Poeobsessed mad surgeon with a torture chamber in his basement and Karloff as a fugitive murderer desperately on the run from the police. Lugosi had the lead role, but Karloff received top billing, using only his last name.

After Jean Thatcher Ware has been injured in a car accident, her father, Judge Thatcher Hinds and beau Jerry Matthews implore retired surgeon Dr. Richard Vollin Lugosi to perform a delicate operation to restore her to health. Vollin agrees and is successful he befriends the spirited and grateful Jean, in the process revealing his passion for all things related to Edgar Allan Poe, including his homemade collection of torture devices inspired by Poes works such as a pit, pendulum with scythe, shrinking room, etc., and identifying the raven as his talisman.After Vollin reveals his growing love for Jean to her father, the Judge quickly discourages him from the affair. Angered, Vollin hatches a plan when Edmond Bateman Karloff, a murderer on the run, comes to his home asking for a new face so he may live in anonymity. Vollin admits to not being a plastic surgeon, but says he can help Bateman, and asks him to help in exacting revenge on the Thatchers, which he refuses. Bateman explains that he feels his antisocial behavior is a result of having been called ugly all his life, and he hopes a new face may gave him a chance to end it. Vollin performs the surgery, but instead turns Bateman into a disfigured monster, promising only to operate again on Bateman when Vollins revenge is exacted. Bateman finally reluctantly agrees. ........

Source: Wikipedia