The Ghoul

Prof. Henry Morlant

Broughton

Betty Harlon

Ralph Morlant

Kaney

Aga Ben Dragore

Mahmoud

Nigel Hartley

Davis, the chauffeur (uncredited)

Doctor (uncredited)

In the early 1980s, while men were clearing one of the sound stages at Shepperton Studios in England, of old sets and other detritus, they found a locked door blocked by stacked lumber. Behind the door was a disused and long forgotten film vault that had not been used since the mid 1930s. It was cleared and among the many cans of old film, was the original nitrate camera negative of "The Ghoul" in perfect condition. The British Film Institute had new prints made, and the complete version aired on Channel 4 in the UK in 1984. Bootleg videotapes of this broadcast were shared among collectors for years, but when an official VHS release arrived from MGM/UA Home Video, it proved to be the virtually unwatchable Czech subtitled and heavily cut version. Finally, in 2003, just as the title was being prepared for DVD, MGM/UA obtained the superior material from the BFI for release. This restored copy has substantially raised critical appreciation of the film in modern times and has been reissued in 2008 by Network for a bargain price.

In the 1960's, producer Alex Gordon approached Boris Karloff about remaking "The Ghoul," figuring that by then Karloff was in his 70's and could play the part without the heavy age makeup he'd used in 1933. But the projected remake fell through.

This was the first British film to be labeled "horrific".

Ralph backs up against a wall twice when Dragore comes in and draws a gun on him and Betty.

Nigel Hartley: I happened to be staying in the neighborhood, and hearing of your master's illness I took the liberty of calling. How is he tonight?

Nigel Hartley: I'm sorry there should be this sort of atmosphere. After all, we're only ships that pass in the night.

Doctor: [referring to Morlant] What was the idea of bandaging his hand like that?