Watch Man in the Attic

Man in the Attic is a classic horror film that was released in 1953, and it stars Jack Palance, Constance Smith, and Byron Palmer. The movie is based on the 1913 novel The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes, which was also the inspiration for a 1927 silent film and Alfred Hitchcock's 1929 talkie. Unlike the previous film adaptations, Man in the Attic is set in the late Victorian era and centers around a mysterious lodger who resides in the attic of a London family.

The movie opens with a series of murders that have taken place in the Whitechapel district of London. The slayings are reminiscent of the notorious Jack the Ripper murders, as the victims are all young women who have been brutally mutilated. The residents of Whitechapel are in a panic, and the police are under intense pressure to catch the killer.

Meanwhile, a young actress named Lilly Bonner (played by Constance Smith) is looking for a place to stay in London. She visits a boarding house run by the Bonting family, who are struggling to make ends meet. The Bontings have a spare room that they rent out to lodgers, and Lilly agrees to take the room.

On her first night in the house, Lilly sees a strange figure lurking on the staircase. She assumes it is one of the other lodgers and thinks nothing of it. However, over the next few days, Lilly notices that there is something odd about the man who is renting the attic room. He is reclusive and rarely leaves his quarters. When he does come downstairs, he is always wearing a thick coat and gloves, even though it is the middle of summer.

The lodger, who is played by Jack Palance, is a brooding and mysterious figure. He spends his days obsessively poring over scientific texts and anatomical diagrams. He is clearly disturbed, and his behavior becomes increasingly erratic as the movie progresses.

As Lilly gets to know the lodger better, she becomes convinced that he is the killer. She confides in the police, who dismiss her accusations as the ramblings of a hysterical woman. Lilly is determined to prove the lodger's guilt, and she sets out to investigate the murders herself.

Man in the Attic is a tense and atmospheric thriller that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. Jack Palance gives a superb performance as the troubled lodger, and Constance Smith is excellent as the plucky heroine who risks everything to bring him to justice. The movie is beautifully shot, with plenty of Gothic touches that give it a creepy, sinister vibe. Fans of classic horror films will find a lot to love in Man in the Attic, which is a worthy addition to the cinematic canon of Jack the Ripper-inspired movies.

In conclusion, Man in the Attic is an engrossing and well-crafted horror film that is sure to delight fans of the genre. With its chilling atmosphere, strong performances, and clever plot twists, this movie is a true gem of 1950s cinema. If you enjoy suspenseful thrillers with a touch of Gothic horror, do not miss this timeless classic.

Man in the Attic is a 1953 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1.